Nationwide epidemiologic survey of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head CORR Open Access

Description: Results The number of patients who sought medical care for idiopathic ONFH during 2004 was estimated to be 11,400 (95% confidence interval, 10,100–12,800). We obtained clinical information from 1502 of these patients. The peak in age distribution occurred in the 40s. Potential causative factors were systemic steroid administration (51%) and habitual alcohol use (31%). Hip replacement was the most frequently performed procedure (65%). Among patients with a history of systemic steroid administration, systemic lupus erythematosus was reported most frequently (31%) as the underlying disease. Among patients younger than 40 years, steroid use was the most prominent potential causative factor (60%), and hip replacement frequently was performed (45%). A greater proportion of patients with no history of steroid or alcohol use was observed among patients 65 years or older (41%).
Conclusions In addition to the disease burden of idiopathic ONFH in Japan, our results confirmed the importance of developing preventive and treatment strategies, especially among the younger population.
Nationwide epidemiologic survey of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Fukushima W, Fujioka M, Kubo T, Tamakoshi A, Nagai M, Hirota Y. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010 Oct;468(10):2715-24 (full text)