Abstract
From 1965 to 1987, 17 2 patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in 296 joints have visited our university hospital clinic. This osteonecrosis has occured frequently in young patients. There has been a high incidence of involvement of both sides of the femoral head.
We have treated 176 of these joints with osteotomy or replacement with artificial joints. Transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy (TRO) was performed on 120 joints, with a success rate of 77.6 %. As this is equal to that in cases of idiopathic osteonecrosis, showing that TRO is useful for treating steroid- induced osteonecrosis. For making the decision to perfom a osteotomy, it is important to investigate the position and extent of the intact area in the femoral head. Tomography, CT scan, and MRI are useful methods for doing this.
