Combined pharmacotherapy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head after severe acute respiratory syndrome and interstitial pneumonia: two and a half to fourteen year follow-up.

<bold>Purpose: </bold>The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes of combined pharmacotherapy to ONFH after high-dose corticosteroid therapy.<bold>Method: </bold>From August 2003 to June 2015, five patients (ten hips) of ONFH in ARCO stage I, after SARS and Interstitial pneumonia, were treated by combined pharmacotherapy. Lipo-prostaglandin E1 10 μg iv Bid × 28 days, enoxaparin 6000 iu H QD × 12 weeks, alendronate sodium tablet 10 mg QD × 1 year. The patients were fully weight-bearing following completion of the follow-up.<bold>Result: </bold>For these five patients (ten hips), Harris score was 100 from the diagnosis to final follow-up time. Radiologic findings show no signs of collapse, necrotic focus was repaired, and ARCO stages were changed from IC into IIB.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>This combined pharmacotherapy has promising treatment results for delaying or preventing collapse of ONFH in ARCO stage I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]