Autologous bone marrow stem cell–seeded scaffold to repair early femoral head avascular necrosis

Clinical Transformation of Bone Reconstruction With Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vitro to Repair Avascular Necrosis of Femur Head

We are testing whether a decalcified bone scaffold grown with each patient's own bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can help repair early non‑traumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head in adults aged 20–65.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Xinxiang, Henan)
• Trial ID: NCT07101562 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single‑center interventional approach harvests a patient's bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, cultures them in vitro on a commercial decalcified bone scaffold to form tissue‑engineered bone, and implants that composite into the necrotic zone after core decompression. The trial enrolls adults aged 20–65 with ARCO II non‑traumatic femoral head necrosis and persistent hip pain despite conservative care. The procedure aims to provide structural support and biological activity to promote bone and blood vessel regeneration and to prevent femoral head collapse. Outcomes will focus on clinical symptoms, imaging of femoral head structure, and preservation of hip function over follow‑up.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 20–65 with ARCO II non‑traumatic femoral head necrosis who have ongoing hip pain after conservative treatment and can walk more than 50 meters without long‑term assistive devices.

Not a fit: Patients with traumatic femoral head necrosis, more advanced ARCO stages, unable to ambulate, or who require immediate joint replacement are unlikely to benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could promote bone regeneration and blood supply in early femoral head necrosis, reducing pain and lowering the chance of femoral head collapse or need for hip replacement.

How similar studies have performed: Prior small clinical and preclinical studies using autologous bone marrow MSCs with scaffolds have shown promising bone regeneration, but larger controlled trials are still limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Capable of understanding and voluntarily signing the informed consent form before the study;
2. Meets the diagnostic criteria in the "Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Adult Femoral Head Necrosis in China (2020)";
3. Age range: 20 - 65 years old (inclusive of boundary values), gender not restricted;
4. Staged as ARCO II stage;
5. Non-traumatic femoral head necrosis;
6. Has received conservative treatment (such as physical therapy, blood-activating, analgesic drugs, etc.) for more than 2 weeks, and the target hip joint still shows persistent pain symptoms;
7. The subjects are usually able to move, not bedridden or in a wheelchair for a long time, and can walk more than 50 meters without the help of crutches or walking sticks;
8. During the trial period and within 90 days after the surgery, the subjects have no pregnancy plans and voluntarily take effective contraceptive measures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Based on the researcher's judgment, the subjects had a history of trauma and the injury affected the target hip joint;
2. In the six months prior to screening, there were obvious injuries involving the target hip joint;
3. The subject's femoral head necrosis was due to other diseases affecting the hip joint (such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, symptomatic cartilage calcification, bone necrosis, active infection), or according to the researcher's judgment, peripheral or central nervous system lesions that might affect the assessment of pain and function of the target hip joint (such as back pain, knee joint disease, intervertebral disc protrusion, sciatic nerve pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, etc.);
4. The femoral head of the target hip joint had obvious necrosis, collapse, joint fusion, etc.;
5. Those who had a history of hip joint replacement, arthroplasty, or other hip joint surgeries, or planned to undergo surgical treatment of any lower limb/hip joint during the study period;
6. The target hip joint had suppurative arthritis or a previous history;
7. The target hip joint had obvious joint effusion;
8. During the screening period, the target hip joint had active joint infection or skin ulceration, infection in the surgical area, or any significant chronic skin disease that might interfere with the surgical procedure;
9. The subject was treating the target hip joint, and within 30 days before screening, had used opioids or glucocorticoids for treatment; or was required to use opioids or glucocorticoids for long-term treatment during the study period;
10. Patients who had received any drug injection or surgical treatment in the hip joint (both sides or any one side) within 6 months before the treatment start;
11. Started using drugs such as cilostazol for promoting blood circulation and anticoagulation therapy 8 weeks before screening;
12. Note: If antihypertensive drugs or anticoagulant drugs such as cilostazol were used for treatment for ≥ 8 weeks before screening, they could be used at a stable dose during the study period;
13. The subject had a disease requiring systemic glucocorticoid treatment;
14. Abnormal liver and kidney function: At the time of screening, AST or ALT \> 2 × upper limits of normal (ULN); or serum creatinine \> 1.5 × ULN, or creatinine clearance rate ≤ 50 mL/min;
15. Note: For men, the creatinine clearance rate (mL/min) = \[(140 - age) × weight (kg)\] / \[0.818 × Cr (μmol/L)\]; for women, the creatinine clearance rate (mL/min) = male creatinine clearance rate (mL/min) × 0.85;
16. The subject had any type of active malignant tumor and was receiving systemic chemotherapy; or within 5 years before screening, was diagnosed with cancer (excluding squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma of the skin);
17. According to the researcher's judgment, before enrollment, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed clinically significant abnormalities; including QTc (QTcB) \> 450 ms, or heart rate \> 100 bpm, or QRS \> 120 ms, or PR \> 220 ms;
18. Basic cardiovascular diseases: Within 6 months before enrollment, had experienced the following cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass surgery or traumatic coronary artery reperfusion surgery or stroke; unstable angina pectoris; variant angina pectoris; symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association cardiac function grade III-IV or ejection fraction ≤ 35%);
19. Uncontrolled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg after standardized antihypertensive drug treatment);
20. Positive hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, AIDS antibody, syphilis antibody tests;
21. Those who are known or suspected to be allergic to the active or inactive ingredients of the research drug;
22. Gastrointestinal underlying diseases: having a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation after using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); subjects with active gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding within 30 days before enrollment, or who have had recurrent ulcer bleeding in the past;
23. Allergic to the test drug or having a history of hypersensitivity reaction;
24. Subjects unable to avoid non-habitual physical activities (such as starting new weightlifting exercises);
25. Having a clear history of mental disorder, or having a history of abuse of psychotropic drugs or drug addiction;
26. Alcohol (defined as drinking more than 2 units per day/ more than 14 units per week, 1 unit being equivalent to 360ml of beer or 45ml of 40% alcohol content spirits or 150ml of wine) or drug abusers; or those with mental disorders;
27. Pregnant women, lactating women, and women of childbearing age who have not undergone sterilization surgery/are not in menopause/are unwilling to use medically approved effective contraceptive measures during the study period; men who have not undergone sterilization surgery/are unwilling to use medically approved effective contraceptive measures during the study period;
28. Those who have participated in any other clinical trials within 3 months before screening;
29. Other situations deemed unsuitable for participation in this trial by the investigator.

Where this trial is running

Xinxiang, Henan

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College — Xinxiang, Henan, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Wenjie Ren

Conditions Avascular Necrosis of Femur Head