Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

The purpose of this research study is to investigate new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to better detect and monitor osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) before and after treatment. ONFH causes injury to the hip joint that can lead to osteoarthritis (the breaking/wearing down of cartilage & tissues within the joint) and the eventual need for a hip replacement. It can be difficult to detect ONFH early on using current medical imaging techniques, which is when treatments may be the most effective. Furthermore, available treatments are not always effective at preventing the progression (spread or growth) of ONFH. This research may benefit others with ONFH by providing more effective medical imaging tools to detect ONFH earlier and inform treatment decisions to increase the chance of stopping or delaying the progression of ONFH and preventing hip osteoarthritis.