Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand Vol 95, No 9:SEPTEMBER 2012 (SUPPL. 9) 0125-2208 95 9 2012 Sep Core Decompression and Concentrated Autologous Bone Marrow Injection for Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head 14 EN Areesak Chotivichit Ekkapoj Korwutthikulrangsri Chirayu Auewarakul Sorarid Sarirasririd Original Article Twelve patients with osteonecrosis of femoral head underwent a core decompression and concentrated autologous bone marrow injection. Data of age, sex, underlying disease, risk of osteonecrosis were collected. Patients were followed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and then yearly. Radiographic data were recorded. Thirteen hips in 12 patients underwent the procedure. Two cases were excluded due to loss of follow-up. Mean age was 36.2 (12-56). One hip were in stage I, five in stage II and five in stage III. Risk factor included steroid usage in 6 hips and alcohol consumption in 3 hips. Underlying diseases were SLE (5), dermatitis (1), post-traumatic (1). Average nucleated cell from marrow was 91.58 x 106/ml (+ 55.9). CD34 was 17.25 x 106/ml cells and percentage of recovery of mononuclear cell was 70.4%. Mean follow-up time was 3.6 years (range 1-7 years). All cases had good pain relief initially. At the last followup 8 hips (72%) had progression and 2 underwent surgery. No infection occurred. No adverse effect detected. This report showed low success rate of core decompression with concentrated autologous bone marrow grafting. The effect of delayed progression is not clear. However, the procedure appeared to be safe without immediate complication. Osteonecrosis Core decompression Autologous bone marrow Femoral head