The Problem Osteonecrosis is a disease of bone which ultimately leads to collapse of the articulating joints such as the hip joint. Osteonecrosis is estimated to afflict 10,000 to 20,000 new patients each year in the United States alone. It primarily afflicts individuals during their Productive' years, i.e., 20s, 30s, and 40s. The bony destruction which occurs usually necessitates that total joint arthroplasty be performed. However, the percentage of good to excellent results for hip replacement is not as high in patients with Osteonecrosis as it is for other patient populations.
Controversy surrounds the choice of methods of diagnosis and treatment of osteonecrosis.
This in part reflects the needs for larger clinical studies and additional basic laboratory research. A major need in the study of the causes, progression, and potential treatment of Osteonecrosis is the collection of information pertaining to large numbers of patients. There is no single medical practice or institution which contains enough patients to definitively answer all of the clinically relevant questions pertaining to this disease. As a consequence of this, funding of research projects in this area is limited if not nonexistent. Coordinated studies conducted at multiple medical centers are needed.