What Researchers Did
Researchers looked back at 37 patients (66 hip joints) who developed femoral head necrosis after having SARS, to see how well a combined treatment of alendronate, extracorporeal shock, and hyperbaric oxygen worked over 12 years.
What They Found
After 12 years, patients showed significant improvement in pain, with average VAS scores dropping from 6.81 before treatment to 3.94. Their hip function, measured by the Harris score, also improved from 74.54 to 80.14. The combined treatment was most effective for patients in the early stages (ARCO Phase I) of femoral head necrosis.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients who developed femoral head necrosis after SARS, this study suggests that a combined treatment including hyperbaric oxygen therapy might help slow down or stop the progression of the condition. This could potentially reduce pain and improve hip function over many years.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective study with a relatively small number of patients and no control group, these findings need to be confirmed by larger, more controlled research.