Publication Name	World Journal of Orthopedics
Manuscript ID	116787
Country	China

Category	Orthopedics
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	From radiological stability to functional preservation: Reconsidering the value of conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Xiao-Peng Fu
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Xiao-Peng Fu, MD, PhD, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China. 1220105011@fjtcm.edu.cn
Key Words	Collapse progression; Non-surgical management; Radiological-functional correlation; Osteonecrosis of the femoral head; Conservative hip preservation
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.
Citation	Fu XP. From radiological stability to functional preservation: Reconsidering the value of conservative treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. World J Orthop 2026; In press

Received	2025-11-20 05:43
Peer-Review Started	2025-11-20 05:43
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-23 10:23
Return for Revision	2025-12-23 10:23
Revised	2026-01-03 16:05
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-01-14 02:44
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-14 09:34
Articles in Press	2026-01-14 09:34
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2218-5836 (online)
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