BACKGROUND

Although numerous studies describe the clinical characteristics of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in specific study populations, these have not been confirmed in countrywide studies.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore determined: (1) the annual number of patients seeking medical care and number of patients newly diagnosed; and (2) the distribution of the age and gender of the patients, potential causative factors, severity of the disease, and operative procedures performed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a nationwide epidemiologic survey in 2005. The survey included all orthopaedic departments in Japan by stratified random sampling according to the number of beds.

RESULTS

The number of patients who sought medical care for idiopathic ONFH during 2004 was estimated to be 11,400 (95% confidence interval, 10,100-12,800). We obtained clinical information from 1502 of these patients. The peak in age distribution occurred in the 40s. Potential causative factors were systemic steroid administration (51%) and habitual alcohol use (31%). Hip replacement was the most frequently performed procedure (65%). Among patients with a history of systemic steroid administration, systemic lupus erythematosus was reported most frequently (31%) as the underlying disease. Among patients younger than 40 years, steroid use was the most prominent potential causative factor (60%), and hip replacement frequently was performed (45%). A greater proportion of patients with no history of steroid or alcohol use was observed among patients 65 years or older (41%).

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the disease burden of idiopathic ONFH in Japan, our results confirmed the importance of developing preventive and treatment strategies, especially among the younger population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.