Long term outcomes of conservative treatment for femoral head osteochondropathy

In patients with femoral head osteochondropathy the long term outcomes of conservative treatment were studied. There were 3 groups of patients: 57 patients who were treated at orthopedic sanatoriums for children; 33 outpatients and 35 patients without treatment. Clinical and radiographic data in three studied groups were compared and likeness of data was obtained. Correlation analysis was performed to detect the factors which statistically reliably defined the long term outcomes. The highest correlation rates were found for disease onset age (-0.47) and the following radiographic data: proximal acetabular index (+0.22), inclination angle of acetabular roof (-0.28) and coefficient of the conformity of femoral head surface and acetabulum (+0.26). Multiple linear regression was used to determine the prognostic index for every patient with femoral head osteochondropathy. There were three degrees of probability of unfavorable long term outcomes in conservative treatment or without therapy and 3 groups of patients with good, doubtful or unfavorable outcomes, respectively. Suggested prognosis method allowed a differential choice of treatment method including surgical correction. In good and unfavorable prognosis the pattern of conservative treatment does not influence the long term outcome so prolonged sanatorium treatment is not expedient.