Fu XP. From radiological stability to functional preservation: Reconsidering the value of conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. World J Orthop 2026; 17(6): 116787 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i6.116787]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Peng Fu, MD, PhD, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 268 Hetian Street, Shayibake District, Urumqi City 830000, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. 1220105011@fjtcm.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Orthopedics
Article-Type of This Article
editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Share the Article
Fu XP. From radiological stability to functional preservation: Reconsidering the value of conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. World J Orthop 2026; 17(6): 116787 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i6.116787]
World J Orthop. Jun 18, 2026; 17(6): 116787 Published online Jun 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i6.116787
From radiological stability to functional preservation: Reconsidering the value of conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Xiao-Peng Fu
Xiao-Peng Fu, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi City 830000, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.
Author contributions: Fu XP was accountable for all aspects of the work, was responsible for the design of the study, writing the manuscript, revising the manuscript, and approving the final version.
AI contribution statement: AI-assisted tools were used during revision only for language polishing, translation assistance, improvement of clarity and readability, and organization of expression. No part of the manuscript was generated entirely by AI. The scientific content, main arguments, literature selection, interpretation of cited evidence, and final conclusions were conceived, reviewed, verified, and finalized by the author.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Peng Fu, MD, PhD, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 268 Hetian Street, Shayibake District, Urumqi City 830000, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. 1220105011@fjtcm.edu.cn
Received: November 20, 2025 Revised: January 3, 2026 Accepted: January 14, 2026 Published online: June 18, 2026 Processing time: 209 Days and 7.7 Hours
Abstract
Conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head has long been debated due to inconsistent outcomes and limited clarity regarding its appropriate indications. The study by Chen et al, published in World Journal of Orthopedics, provides valuable long-term evidence demonstrating that radiological stability can translate into meaningful functional preservation in selected patients. This editorial re-examines the clinical value of conservative hip preservation by linking imaging-based progression patterns with long-term functional trajectories. Key considerations – such as stage-specific evaluation, patient selection, and predictors of treatment durability – are highlighted to refine clinical decision-making. A deeper understanding of the interaction between imaging stability and functional outcomes may reshape future treatment algorithms for osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
Core Tip: Conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head has long been limited by inconsistent outcomes and unclear indications. Emerging long-term evidence demonstrates that radiological stability – particularly in patients with limited lesion extent and minimal collapse – can translate into durable functional preservation. This editorial synthesizes multisource data to re-evaluate the role of conservative management, emphasizing stage-specific assessment, precise patient selection, and predictors of treatment durability. A deeper integration of imaging progression patterns with functional trajectories may refine future therapeutic algorithms and support a more individualized approach to hip preservation.
