Abstract
Aims: The present experimental study raised the question whether corticosteroid therapy inßuences the sensitivity of the femoral head circulation to ischemia induced by hip joint tamponade. Methods: 31 Landrace pigs were treated in 4 groups. 12 animals received a 14 day methylprednisolone intramuscular application before hip joint tamponade. 11 pigs underwent hip joint tamponade without previous medication. Control groups comprised 4 animals not undergoing hip joint tamponade. Blood ßow measurement was undertaken in predeþned regions by radioactive microsphere technique. Results: Epiphyseal blood ßow decreased signiþcantly during hip joint tamponade. Reperfusion occurred to a level not signiþcantly differing from that before ischemia, whereas epiphyses remained ischemic in 2 pigs. In the steroid treated animals, the basic blood ßow appeared 2–3 times lower than that of the non medicated pigs. Also in the steroid group 2 epiphyseal remained ischemic. The metaphyseal corticalis in the steroid treated animals revealed signiþcant hyperperfusion. Conclusions: Ischemia by hip joint tamponade in a porcine model was produced quantitatively for the þrst time. The majority of femoral head epiphyses was reperfused on steady state blood ßow level. Nonreperfusion of 2 epiphyses in each group indicated that 6 hours of ischemia might be just below the minimum stress in order to produce necrosis of the femoral head. High dose steroid medication reduced the steady state blood ßow level of the femoral head 2–3 times but did not inhibit or disturb reperfusion.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
