Objective      To discuss the efficacy of porous tantalum implantation in treatment of early femoral head necrosis.       Methods      From April 2008 to June 2012

twenty-six patients with 31 hips of early femoral head necrosis were treated with porous tantalum implantation. Five patients suffered from bilateral hip involvement. The mean age was 43.8 years and the mean body mass index was 23.5. Eleven patients (14 hips) suffered from osteonecrosis as a result of corticosteroid therapy

and ten patients (12 hips) had alcohol-induced osteonecrosis. For five patients

(five hips)

no etiological factor could be detected. According to Harris hip score

four hips were assessed as excellent

four as good

five as moderate and eighteen as poor

and the average score was 65.2±20.7. According to Steinberg stages

three hips were identified as stage ⅠC

three as ⅡB and 25 as ⅡC.       Results      All patients were followed up with an average duration of 29.4±14.8 months. The final evaluation was made according to the last follow-up data. According to Harris hip score

seventeen hips were assessed as excellent

seven as good

three as fair and four as poor. The excellent to good rate was 77.4% and the average score was 86.6±13.9 with a statistical difference (

P

0.05). According to Steinberg stages

three hips were identified as stage ⅠC

four as ⅡB

fifteen as ⅡC

two as ⅢC

one as ⅣB and six as ⅣC. The radiographic progression rate to Steinberg ⅢA or more advanced was 29.0%. No serious adverse reaction occurred during this period.       Conclusion      Porous tantalum implantation in treatment of early femoral head necrosis can improve the joint function and delay the disease with good short-term efficacy.