If you have been diagnosed with AVN of the hip and are exploring treatment options without surgery, the key question is whether non-surgical treatment is appropriate in your case.
At this stage, most patients are comparing available options and trying to understand what is realistically possible.
Non-surgical treatment is possible in selected cases, but it is not suitable for every stage of AVN.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options Available for AVN of the Hip
Non-surgical treatment in AVN aims to control disease progression, reduce symptoms, and preserve joint structure.
These options are considered only when the femoral head has not collapsed.
No single option works for all patients. Each option has a specific role and limitation.
1. SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) Therapy
SVF therapy is a minimally invasive biological treatment. It uses cells taken from the patient’s own adipose (fat) tissue.
These cells may help improve the healing environment inside the bone.
It may:
- Help in early-stage AVN
- Reduce symptoms
- Slow disease progression
It does not work once the bone has collapsed.
Best for: Stage 1, Stage 2, and selected early Stage 3
2. Medications and Physiotherapy
These are used to:
- Reduce pain
- Maintain hip movement
- Reduce stiffness
They do not heal dead bones and cannot stop collapse on their own.
Best for: Supportive care at all stages
3. Bisphosphonate Treatment
These medicines help slow bone damage.
They may:
- Reduce the risk of early collapse
- Work best in early AVN
They require monitoring and do not help in advanced disease.
Best for: Early-stage AVN
4. Restricted Weight Bearing and Load Control
This includes:
- Using crutches or a walker
- Reducing pressure on the hip
It may slow damage in early AVN but is difficult to follow long-term.
Best for: Early-stage AVN (supportive role)
5. Lifestyle and Risk-Factor Control
This includes:
- Avoiding alcohol
- Reviewing steroid use with a doctor
- Managing medical conditions
- Maintaining healthy body weight
These steps support treatment but do not work alone.
Best for: All stages (supportive role)
Conclusion
AVN treatment without surgery is a selective, stage-dependent approach, not a guaranteed alternative. It is most useful in early, structurally stable disease, where the goal is to delay progression and preserve the natural joint.
Understanding the role and limits of each option allows patients to make informed, timely treatment decisions based on medical reality rather than assumptions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, AVN can be treated without surgery in selected cases, mainly when the disease is in Stage 1, Stage 2, or selected early Stage 3 and the hip bone has not collapsed.
Non-surgical treatment works best in Stage 1, may help in Stage 2, and has limited benefit in early Stage 3. Once the femoral head collapses, non-surgical treatment is usually not effective.
No. Non-surgical treatment does not cure AVN. Its goal is to slow disease progression, reduce symptoms, and delay worsening, not to reverse dead bone.
Treatment is considered effective when MRI shows no disease progression, pain and function remain stable, and daily activities are manageable. Pain relief alone does not always mean the disease has stopped.
If symptoms worsen or imaging shows bone collapse, non-surgical treatment should be stopped, and surgical options need to be discussed to prevent further joint damage.
