Table 3.

Nonpharmacological, nonsurgical interventions for nontraumatic osteonecrosis

TreatmentIndicationStudy cohortDoseStudy designON classificationFollow-upConclusionsReference
HBO ON ALL/ NHL 19 pts (0, 7-15, 6 y) 13-80 treatments Single center Number of lesions (MRI) 12 mo Pain reduction 52  
ESWT >30 y and ARCO I-III 19 pts (30 hips) A (1000 shocks/session, EFD per shock 0.12 mJ/mm2Single center ARCO 6 mo VAS, Harris Hip Score, and Osteoarthritis Index improved 53  
B (1000 shocks/ session, EFD per shock 0.32 mJ/mm2
ESWT n.s. 40 pts (31.9-54 y) Group A, group B: prostacyclin and bisphosphonate Single center, prospective, randomized Bone marrow edema >12 mo Improvement in pain and function of affected knees; complete regression in all pts of group A 59  
(S)PEMF In vitro cell culture, in vivo mice 2 humans/ 18 mice Mice: 1 Tesla, 30 pulses/d Single center Mice: histopathology 4 wk Bone repair, neovascularization, and cell growth in necrotic bone in mice 57  
TreatmentIndicationStudy cohortDoseStudy designON classificationFollow-upConclusionsReference
HBO ON ALL/ NHL 19 pts (0, 7-15, 6 y) 13-80 treatments Single center Number of lesions (MRI) 12 mo Pain reduction 52  
ESWT >30 y and ARCO I-III 19 pts (30 hips) A (1000 shocks/session, EFD per shock 0.12 mJ/mm2Single center ARCO 6 mo VAS, Harris Hip Score, and Osteoarthritis Index improved 53  
B (1000 shocks/ session, EFD per shock 0.32 mJ/mm2
ESWT n.s. 40 pts (31.9-54 y) Group A, group B: prostacyclin and bisphosphonate Single center, prospective, randomized Bone marrow edema >12 mo Improvement in pain and function of affected knees; complete regression in all pts of group A 59  
(S)PEMF In vitro cell culture, in vivo mice 2 humans/ 18 mice Mice: 1 Tesla, 30 pulses/d Single center Mice: histopathology 4 wk Bone repair, neovascularization, and cell growth in necrotic bone in mice 57  

ARCO, association research circulation osseous; EFD, energy flux density; HBO, hyperbaric oxygenation; ESWT, extracorporeal shock wave therapy; HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma; n.s., not specified; (S)PEMF, (single) pulsed electromagnetic fields; VAS, visual analog scale

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