Abstract
Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head is an important and unresolved problem in orthopaedic surgery. Generally the progressive collapse of the femoral head and ultimate osteoarthritis of the hip will ensue requiring joint replacement. But longterm results of total hip joint replacement surgery are unfavorable especially in young patients. Therefore, if alternatives to the toal joint replacement are to be effective, they must be applied especially in young patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Recently we attempted the vascular-pedicled iliac bone graft (VPIBG), using the deep circumflex iliac vessel as a vascular pedicle, in 13 hips of 10 patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and followed up 9–19 months after operation. Aims of this procedure are to decompress the femoral head hence allowing better circulation, to revitalize the dead head by insertion of live bleeding bone and to give a mechanical support preventing further collapse of the femoral head. Though more follow up studies are required, the preliminary results seen during 9–19 months after surgery are encouraging enough to be reported.