Bone and Joint Diseases

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurs when blood supply to the upper portion of the thigh bone is disrupted, causing bone tissue to die and the hip joint to progressively collapse — a process that disproportionately affects working-age adults and frequently leads to total hip replacement if untreated. Researchers are working to clarify the underlying pathophysiology, including how glucocorticoid use and other triggers compromise bone marrow vascularity, and how MRI can detect early-stage disease before structural damage becomes irreversible. Current treatment efforts are focused on joint-preserving interventions such as core decompression — surgically reducing pressure within the femoral head — and the emerging use of stem cell therapy to stimulate bone regeneration in affected tissue. Key open questions include identifying which patients will progress to collapse without intervention, and whether biological therapies can reliably restore viable bone in a clinical setting.

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Keywords

OsteonecrosisFemoral HeadBone MarrowTreatmentPathophysiologyMRI Imaging