Suspended

The Use of Bisphosphonates in the Treatment of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

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What is being tested

Pamidronate Disodium

Drug
Who is being recruted

Bone Diseases+4

+ Femur Head Necrosis

+ Musculoskeletal Diseases

From 10 to 18 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: July 2009
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorThe Hospital for Sick Children
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: July 1, 2009

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head and collapse is a devastating condition in the pediatric patient population leading to degenerative arthritis and significant disability. Bisphosphonate therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of adults with avascular necrosis of the femoral head. For children and adolescents however, there is currently no effective treatment that prevents collapse of the femoral head. Some patients with proven avascular necrosis of the femoral epiphysis are treated with bisphosphonates (intravenous pamidronate) at the The Hospital for Sick Children. The main aim of this study is to prospectively collect data on HSC patients receiving bisphosphonate treatment and thereby report the effectiveness of this treatment in the prevention of femoral head collapse.

Official TitleThe Use of Bisphosphonates in the Treatment of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head
NCT02007915
Principal SponsorThe Hospital for Sick Children
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

20 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 10 to 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Bone DiseasesFemur Head NecrosisMusculoskeletal DiseasesNecrosisOsteonecrosisPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Patients between the ages of 10 and 18 with: * unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (defined as inability to bear weight) or acute slipped capital femoral epiphysis (defined as a separation of the epiphysis from the metaphysis of the proximal femur) who have been pinned either in situ or following reduction, * traumatic hip dislocations or traumatic proximal femur fractures, or * "idiopathic" avascular necrosis of the femoral head which includes unknown causes as well as Sickle Cell Disease, post radiation use, post chemotherapy treatment, and post steroid treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Decline to participate in study. (Patients will be still offered this therapy whether or not they wish to be included in the official study protocol. Clinical evaluations, laboratory and imaging tests would be unchanged if they choose to be treated with intravenous pamidronate) * Significant femoral head collapse - judged radiographically by treating surgeon * Idiopathic causes under the age of 10.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

One single intervention group is designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, CanadaOpen The Hospital for Sick Children in Google Maps
SuspendedOne Study Center