An interventional study of Core Decompression and Core Decompression Procedure with Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head and Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Recruiting at 10 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-17.
Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a debilitating musculoskeletal disease that is characterized by localized death of bone cells and associated cellular elements within the subchondral bone. If it progresses, it results in the collapse of the femoral head (ball part of the hip) giving rise to secondary arthritis. This condition is associated with marked pain and loss of function, often necessitating a joint replacement. Due to the relatively young age of onset of ONFH (often in 20s and 30s), there is great interest in utilizing joint-preserving procedures prior to the need for joint replacement. Joint-preserving procedures include core decompression (CD) with and without bone grafts or cells, vascularized and non-vascularized bone grafting, as well as osteotomies. Inconsistent results for each of these procedures have been reported and there are no Clinical Practice Guidelines or medical community consensus opinions regarding the treatment of early-stage ONFH. The hypothesis to be tested is "Participants who have early-stage ONFH undergoing CD augmented with autogenous bone marrow aspirate concentrate will have better clinical and radiological outcomes than CD alone." This multi-center randomized controlled trial for early-stage ONFH is prospective and controlled for participant stage (only early-stage pre-collapse individuals) and surgical technique. Participants will be evaluated as per routine surgical follow-up, and at 6 months (telemedicine), 1- and 2- years using radiographs, MRIs, and questionnaires. This project will also explore the scientific basis for success vs. failure in individuals who have osteonecrosis, and have different demographics and bone marrow aspirate cell profiles.
Rationale. It is estimated that there are 10,000 to 20,000 new cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head diagnosed each year in the United States. Several approaches to treatment have been undertaken including nonsurgical (e.g., pharmaceuticals, hyperbaric oxygen) and surgical (e.g., core decompression, bone grafting (both non-vascularized and vascularized), osteotomies, total joint replacement). Total joint replacement is performed to treat end-stage disease (when the joint goes "out-of-round", and cartilage damage has occurred). There has been increasing interest in using cell-based treatment with core decompression (CD) to treat early-stage osteonecrosis. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injected into the CD is being evaluated in this study as it contains progenitor cells and other elements that have been shown to facilitate the development of bone and blood vessels. There is a need for rigorous, randomized controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of this cell-based treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH).
Objectives. The goal of this study is to compare the clinical and radiological results of core decompression with autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate to core decompression alone (CD). The results will be based on: 1) evidence of radiological progression of ONFH, 2) time to radiological progression of ONFH to Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) Stage III or IV, Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARC)), the international society for the study of osteonecrosis and other disorders of bone circulation] or 3) pain requiring surgical intervention. Success will be based on survivorship of the femoral head over the course of the study. Failure of the procedure is based upon evidence of radiographic progression to ARCO Stage III or pain requiring a surgical intervention.
Overall Design. This is a prospective, multi-center, interventional clinical trial being conducted to evaluate two treatments for early stage ONFH. Participants will be 1:1 randomized to one of two arms: 1) BMAC: Core decompression augmented with autogenous bone marrow aspirate concentrate; 2) CD: Core decompression alone. The core decompression and bone marrow aspiration and concentration will be performed according to a standardized protocol. The CD group will also undergo a sham procedure consisting of a small incision and placing the needle up to the iliac bone without marrow aspiration. In the BMAC group, a sample of the bone marrow aspirate concentrate will be submitted for laboratory assessments to identify the constituent cells and major biological pathways involved. Clinical Research Forms (pre-operatively; 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-operatively), radiographs, and MRIs (pre-operatively; 12- and 24-months post-operatively) will be performed.
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Exclusion Criteria
Participants who have:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Core decompression of the femoral head with sham bone marrow aspiration
Procedure: Core Decompression
Autologous bone marrow aspiration is concentrated and injected into the necrotic bone of the femoral head through the core decompression opening.
Procedure: Core Decompression · Procedure: Core Decompression Procedure with Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
Standard core decompression procedure is performed by drilling into the necrotic bone of the femoral head. A sham bone marrow aspiration involves advancing a needle to the iliac crest (no bone penetration, no bone marrow aspiration) through a small skin incision.
This involves bone marrow aspiration, concentrating the bone marrow aspirate, and injecting 6 milliliters of bone marrow aspirate concentrate into the necrotic femoral head through an opening created by the core decompression.
Radiological progression of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) to ARCO Stage III or IV
The 2019 ARCO Staging System encompasses four stages. ARCO Stage I is the earliest stage of osteonecrosis and is characterized by a normal x-ray and an abnormal MRI. ARCO Stage IV is the most advanced stage of osteonecrosis and is characterized by findings of osteoarthritis on x-ray.
Time frame: Up to 24 months
Change in Pain using the Pain VAS scale
This is assessed using the pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The participant marks an X on a 10cm scale denoting the level of pain that they are experiencing. VAS measures pain intensity on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain).
Time frame: Up to 24 months
Time to failure of femoral head
Time is measured in months following the intervention (core decompression or core decompression with cells). Failure is defined as radiological progression to ARCO Stage III or IV or unremitting pain requiring surgical intervention.
Time frame: Up to 24 months
Change in Pain using the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)
The Pain subscale of the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) will be used. The HOOS Pain sub-score is comprised of 10 items with a potential total of 40 points. Higher score worse pain,
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Symptoms and Stiffness using the HOOS
The Symptoms and Stiffness will be assessed using the HOOS Symptoms and Stiffness sub-score is comprised of 5 items with a potential total score of 20 points. Higher score worse stiffness.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Activities of Daily Living function using the HOOS
The HOOS Activities of Daily Living function sub-score is comprised of 17 items with a potential total of 68 points. Higher scores better functioning.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Function in Sports and Recreational Activities using the HOOS
The HOOS Function of Sports and Recreational Activities subscale is comprised of 4 items with a potential total of 16 points. Higher score better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Quality of Life using the HOOS
The HOOS Quality of Life subscale is comprised of 4 items with a potential total of 16 points. Higher score better quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Mental Health Composite Score using the PROMIS 10 Global Health Questionnaire
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 10 Global Questionnaire is a 10-item patient-reported outcomes measure. A Mental Health Composite Score is generated as a summary of 4 items. Item responses range from 5 = None to 1 = Very Severe. The raw scores are converted into a T-score. Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10. PROMIS mental health survey. The measures are generic, rather than disease-specific, and use an "In General" item context as it is intended to globally reflect individuals' assessment of their health. It is a survey of 10 questions which gives a physical health and mental health score. The raw global health mental score (4-20) is converted to a mental health T score (16.2-67.7). The higher the score, the better the health outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Physical Health Composite Score using the PROMIS 10 Global Health Questionnaire
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 10 Global Questionnaire is a 10-item patient-reported outcomes measure. A Physical Health Composite Score is generated from the PROMIS 10 Global Questionnaire as a summary of 4 items. Item responses range from 5 = None to 1 = Very Severe. The raw scores are converted into a T-score. Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10. PROMIS physical health survey. The measures are generic, rather than disease-specific, and use an "In General" item context as it is intended to globally reflect individuals' assessment of their health. It is a survey of 10 questions which gives a physical health and mental health score. The raw global health physical score (4-20) is converted to a physical health T score (16.2-67.7). The higher the score, the better the health outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Change in Activity using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Rating Scale
The UCLA Activity Score ranks the level of participant activity on a 10-point scale based on descriptors of activity ranging from wholly inactive and dependent on others, cannot leave residence (Level 1) to regular participation in impact sports such as tennis, skiing, acrobatics, ballet, heavy labor, or backpacking (Level 10). The higher the level, the better the outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months
Plan to share: Yes — Data sharing will be performed in accordance with the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Guidance document.
Supporting information: Clinical study report
Time frame: In agreement with the policy of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the data will be shared within 2 years after posting of the study results.
Access criteria: Clinicians and scientists will submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts. The public will have access to the published results. Requests for subsets of data for sub-analysis will be provided to all Co-Principal Investigators and Co- Investigators following approval of a submitted proposal. A limited access data (LAD) program for public access to a subset of de-identified data from our study will be developed, complying with all the data elements defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
Data sharing details ↗ · sharing.nih.gov
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