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Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Treatment for Early-Stage Osteonecrosis

Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for the Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06123481
Acronym
BATON
Enrollment
192
Registered
2023-11-08
Start date
2025-04-01
Completion date
2029-07-31
Last updated
2025-11-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head, Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Keywords

osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, avascular necrosis (AVN), bone marrow aspirate, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, bone marrow cells, bone marrow, cell-based treatment, core decompression, femoral head, necrosis, bone diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, pathologic processes, hip, ONFH, AVN

Brief summary

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.

Detailed description

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.

Interventions

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.

PROCEDURECore Decompression Procedure with Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate

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.

Sponsors

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
CollaboratorNIH
Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Participants will be blinded as to group assignment. Both groups will undergo a core decompression. One group will undergo a bone marrow aspiration and the other group will undergo a sham procedure. This sham procedure consists of a small incision and placing a needle up to the iliac bone but with no bone penetration or aspiration. The study radiologists will be blinded as to patient treatment assignment; images will be assigned the patient study number and date only.

Intervention model description

A 1:1 randomized, parallel design with two treatment arms: 1) core decompression (percutaneous drilling) alone, or 2) core decompression augmented with autogenous bone marrow aspirate. Cluster randomization will be performed at each participating institution.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Participants who have non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head * Only participants who have Stage 1 or 2 osteonecrosis as assessed by the 2019 ARCO Staging System * No evidence of subchondral fracture * All osteonecrotic lesion sizes * All major risk factors (e.g. corticosteroids, alcohol, organ recipient) except for those listed in the

Exclusion criteria

* Participants diagnosed who have femoral head osteonecrosis for which no risk factor has yet to be identified * Participants will include all ethnicities and races * Be able and willing to participate in study and return for postoperative visits

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Radiological progression of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) to ARCO Stage III or IVUp to 24 monthsThe 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.
Change in Pain using the Pain VAS scaleUp to 24 monthsThis 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 to failure of femoral headUp to 24 monthsTime 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.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Function in Sports and Recreational Activities using the HOOSBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe HOOS Function of Sports and Recreational Activities subscale is comprised of 4 items with a potential total of 16 points. Higher score better outcome.
Change in Quality of Life using the HOOSBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe HOOS Quality of Life subscale is comprised of 4 items with a potential total of 16 points. Higher score better quality of life.
Change in Pain using the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe 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,
Change in Physical Health Composite Score using the PROMIS 10 Global Health QuestionnaireBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe 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.
Change in Activity using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Rating ScaleBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe 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.
Change in Mental Health Composite Score using the PROMIS 10 Global Health QuestionnaireBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe 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.
Change in Symptoms and Stiffness using the HOOSBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe 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.
Change in Activities of Daily Living function using the HOOSBaseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 monthsThe HOOS Activities of Daily Living function sub-score is comprised of 17 items with a potential total of 68 points. Higher scores better functioning.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactLynne C Jones, PhD
ljones3@jhmi.edu(410) 550-4001
Backup ContactStuart Goodman, MD, PhD
goodbone@stanford.edu650-721-7662

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026