Inflammation is a contributing factor in osteocyte apoptosis, which is strongly associated with the development of glucocorticoid‐associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA‐ONFH). Curcumin is a naturally derived drug that regulates immunity and inhibits inflammation. This study aimed to examine the capacity of curcumin to prevent osteocyte apoptosis and GA‐ONFH, while elucidating possible mechanisms of action. C57/BL6 female mice were divided into control, GA‐ONFH, and curcumin‐treated GA‐ONFH groups. We determined the effect of curcumin on the polarization of RAW264.7 and the apoptosis of MLO‐Y4 cells. We found that curcumin reduced the infiltration of M1‐type macrophages in the femoral heads and alleviated systemic inflammation in GA‐ONFH models. Additionally, curcumin decreased the apoptosis of osteocytes in the femoral heads and the ratio of GA‐ONFH in mice. Further, in vitro curcumin intervention inhibited M1‐type polarization via the JAK1/2‐STAT1 pathway. Taken together, this study demonstrates that curcumin is effective in preventing osteocyte apoptosis and the development of GA‐ONFH in a mouse model. Curcumin prevents inflammatory‐mediated apoptosis of osteocytes in part through inhibition of M1 polarization through JAK1/2‐STAT1 pathway. These findings provide novel insights as well as a potential preventive agent for GA‐ONFH. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Gluteal muscle contracture (GMC), a debilitating disease, usually starts in early childhood after variable dose of injections around the buttock, if left untreated it worsens gradually and persists throughout the life. Because the disease mostly affects adolescents and adults, there is always an aesthetic concerns. Purposeof the study was to introduce the arthroscopic F and C method of GMC release, and to compare its clinical efficiency with conventional open surgery in terms of clinical outcome, rate of complications, patient’s satisfactions, and recurrence. Between Jan 2013 and July 2015, 75 patients received an arthroscopic release with F and C release method and 71 patients received conventional open release of GMC. Primary surgeries in 16 years or older patients were included in the study. Two groups were compared clinically using Hip Outcome Scores – Activities of Daily Living Subscale (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Scores – Sports Subscale (HOS-Sports), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Ye et al. evaluation criteria. No statistically significant differences were observed in Hip Outcome Scores – Activities of Daily Living Subscale (HOS-ADL) (P = 0.078), Hip Outcome Scores – Sports Subscale (HOS-Sports) (P = 0.340), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (P = 0.524) between the two groups. 74 (98.7%) patients in the arthroscopic surgery group had good to excellent results, whereas 69 (97.1%) patients in the conventional open surgery group had good to excellent results (P = 0.727). No statistically significant difference was observed in recurrence rate (P = 0.612). Statistically significant differences were observed in incision length, use of post-operative analgesia, post-operative off-bed activity, and hospital stay. Complications were significantly higher in the conventional open surgery group (n = 21) than in the arthroscopic surgery group (n = 10) (P = 0.016). More importantly, cosmetic satisfaction was 100% in arthroscopic release group, whereas only 71% had cosmetic satisfaction in conventional open surgery group (P < 0.001). Both, arthroscopic surgery and conventional open surgery, are highly effective tools for the GMC release in adolescent and adult patients. Arthroscopic GMC release with F and C method allows precise and selective release of contracture bands with small surgical trauma resulting fewer complications, high cosmetic satisfaction and minimal recurrence.