Clinical Guideline for Non-Surgical Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (2025 Edition)
Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a prevalent and refractory condition in orthopedic clinical practice. In recent years, an increasing number of patients have been diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. Consequently, traditional surgical interventions alone can no longer satisfy current clinical needs, highlighting the urgent demand for effective non-surgical management strategies. Objective: This guideline aims to provide a standardized framework for the non-surgical treatment of ONFH. It focuses on how to rationally and effectively apply these methods to delay disease progression, improve hip joint function, postpone or even avoid surgery, and ultimately achieve the goal of hip preservation. Methods: This guideline systematically evaluates and synthesizes evidence on the application of various non-surgical treatment modalities in the prevention and management of ONFH. These modalities include general therapy, pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, minimally invasive interventions, and rehabilitation. Conclusion: The rational and evidence-based application of non-surgical treatments is of great significance for patients with early-stage ONFH. By following this guideline, clinicians can develop individualized, comprehensive non-surgical regimens that effectively control risk factors, alleviate symptoms, retard the collapse of the femoral head, preserve native hip function, and improve patients' quality of life, thereby reducing the long-\term need for hip arthroplasty.
Authors
- Yifan Jia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3601-9817)
- Deshuai Gao
- Demin Tian
- Wenhua Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9457-6662)
- Ying Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1312-0146)
- Dequan Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3931-5133)
- Pei Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9596-3122)
- Cheng Zhixiang
- Ding Zheng
- Dai Fucheng
- Xing Gengyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2445-8676)
- Zhao Zhongmin
- Xu Mingmin
- Lei Guangchun
- Jin Xiaohong
- Xu Pei
Institutions
- Shenyang Medical College (CN)
- Nantong University (CN)
- Chinese PLA General Hospital (CN)
- Wuhan University (CN)
- Soochow University (CN)
- Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
- Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang (CN)
- Xiangyang Central Hospital (CN)
- People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (CN)
- The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- Weihai Municipal Hospital (CN)
- Chengdu Second People's Hospital (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- First Hospital of Jiaxing (CN)
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (CN)
- Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Pain Research
- Published
- 2026-04-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpr.20260202.12
- Primary Topic
- Bone and Joint Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00