Autologous Stem Cells Combined Core Decompression for Treatment of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head: A Systematic Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Level of evidence (GRADE).

Outcome	Effect		Number of participants	Quality of the evidence
	Relative effect (95% CI)	Absolute effect (95% CI)	(studies)	(GRADE)
Harris hip score		MD 11.52 higher; (10.05 to 12.99 higher)	241; (6 studies)	⊕⊕OO
Necrotic area of femoral head		MD 5.65 higher; (7.15 to 4.16 higher)	146; (4 studies)	⊕⊕OO
Collapse of the femoral head	OR 0.23; (0.12 to 0.47)	136 fewer per 1000; (from 89 more to 1599 more)	425; (9 studies)	⊕⊕OO
Conversion to THR	OR 0.29; (0.13 to 0.62)	112 fewer per 1000; (from 56 more to 141 more)	380; (7 studies)	⊕⊕OO

Most of them did not mention randomization process, allocation concealment, and blinding; published evidence is limited due to a small number of trials, all of which are showing benefits.