BioMed Research International

Review Article

Efficacy of Alendronate for Preventing Collapse of Femoral Head in Adult Patients with Nontraumatic Osteonecrosis

Table 1

Characteristics of the included randomized controlled studies.
Author/year/areaStudy designNumber of hips/patients Gender (F/M)Average age (year)Stage of ANFH ()Detection of ANFH Dosage/average duration of treatment Combined with other treatments Timing of treatment initiationAverage follow-up (month)
AlnControlAlnControlAlnControlAlnControl
Chen et al. (2012) Taiwan [13]Placebo-controlled RCT32/26 33/264/227/1948.4 ± 11.4 44.2 ± 9.2Upenn stage II C (20), Stage III C (12),Upenn stage II C (25), Stage III C (9),MRI70 mg per week for 104 weeksNAAln: 0.9 ± 0.9 months; Placebo: 2.0 ± 2.9 months after diagnosis24
Lai et al. (2005) Taiwan [14]RCT 29/2025/205/155/1542.6 (22–65)42.4 (20–64) Upenn stage II (13); III (12)Upenn stage II (12); III (3)X-ray and MRI70 mg per week for 25 weeksNANA24–28
Nishii et al. (2006) Japan [15]RCT20/148/137/77/148 (29–75) 36 (18–54)ARCO: stage I (10); II (5); III (5) ARCO: stage I (4); II (3); III (7)MRI5 mg per day for 1 yearNAWithin 4 years after diagnosis12
Hsu et al. (2010) Taiwan [31]RCT50/28 48/3510/188/2739.1 ± 12.6 39.6 ± 11.9ARCO: stage I (2); II (35); III (13) ARCO: stage I (2); II (27); III (20)X-ray and MRI70 mg per week for 1 yearESWT +/− HBOAln + ESWT + HBO: 6–48 months; ESWT: 6–18 months after onset of symptoms18–48
Wang et al. (2008) Taiwan [32]RCT30/2530/235/2010/1338.6 ± 12.635.7 ± 4.7ARCO: stage I, II (19); III (11) ARCO: stage I, II (25); III (6)MRI70 mg per week for 1 yearESWTAln + ESWT: 6–18 months; ESWT: 6–20 months after onset of symptoms12
Aln: alendronate; ANFH: avascular necrosis of femoral head; RCT: randomized controlled trial; ESWT: extracorporeal shock wave treatment; HBO: hyperbaric oxygen therapy; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; ARCO: Association Research Circulation Osseous; Upenn: University of Pennsylvania System (Steinberg); NA: not available.