Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40138288›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

CT Hounsfield units in assessing bone and soft tissue quality in the proximal femur: A systematic review focusing on osteonecrosis and total hip arthroplasty.

Tong-Jie Yang, Peng-Peng Wen, Xin Ye, Xiao-Feng Wu, Cheng Zhang, Shi-Yi Sun, Zi-Xuan Wu, Guang-Yi Zhang, Yi-Fei Sun, Ren Ye and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Tong-Jie YangWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Peng-Peng WenFirst Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Xin YeThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xiao-Feng WuThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Cheng ZhangWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Shi-Yi SunWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Zi-Xuan WuWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Guang-Yi ZhangWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Yi-Fei SunWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Ren YeFirst Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Cheng-Kun ZhouWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Hai-Jun HeWangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9332-4757

Funding

Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences CI2021A05406
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComputed tomography (CT) Hounsfield Units (HU) offer valuable insights into the changes in bone and soft tissue densities, playing a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of various proximal femur conditions. This systematic review aims to consolidate the application of HU in assessing tissue quality in the proximal femur, with a special focus on osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and implications for total hip arthroplasty (THA), thereby addressing unresolved issues in these areas.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature search on MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, Scops, Web of Science, and Bentham Science Publishers from inception to January 2024, following the PRISMA guidelines, to retrieve all studies relevant to the application of HU in assessing both bone and soft tissue quality of the proximal femur, particularly in the context of ONFH and THA. We systematically evaluated the key findings extracted from the included articles.

resultsThis systematic review included a total of 58 studies, involving 15,668 patients. The sample sizes ranged from 50 to 685, with the CT slice thickness varying from 0.5 mm to 10 mm. The results mainly focused on three areas: (1) the relationship between HU and the density of proximal femoral tissues (n = 33); (2) the assessment of HU in predicting the risk of femoral head collapse (n = 10); (3) the application of HU during the perioperative period of THA (n = 15).

conclusion(1) HU can effectively contribute to the evaluation of bone and soft tissue densities in the proximal femur, and reflect local stress changes. (2) In ONFH patients, bone density does not decrease in the necrotic area of the femoral head before collapse. However, abnormally elevated HU at the outer boundary of the necrotic lesion are significant in assessing collapse risk. (3) HU can be used to preoperatively assess hip bone quality for THA, guide surgical approaches, predict intraoperative fractures, monitor postoperative bone ingrowth or absorption, identify and quantitatively evaluate periprosthetic loosening, and guide postoperative rehabilitation.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, Replacement, HipFemurFemur Head NecrosisOsteonecrosisTomography, X-Ray ComputedBone DensityFemur HeadHumans

Identifiers

PMID40138288
PMCPMC11940759

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.