Exploratory study on mechanism of influence of age at the onset to prognostic femoral head deformity in patients with Perthes disease

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18534
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Ryosuke 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (30826152)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ペルテス病 / 骨壊死 / 軟骨肥厚 / 成長 / 加齢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Age at the onset is important prognostic factor for femoral head deformity in patients with Perthes disease. However, its' mechanism has still been unknown. In this study, three-dimensional analysis of cartilage hypertrophy of the femoral head using Perthes MRI, and assessment of repair process of cartilage and bone using a mouse model of ischemic osteonecrosis were conducted. In patients with Perthes disease, multidirectional hypertrophy of the femoral head cartilage was observed and that was well correlated with age and femoral head deformity at bone maturity age. Also, ischemic osteonecrosis was significantly well repaired in younger age of the mouse model.

Free Research Field

小児整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果、ペルテス病では軟骨肥厚による骨頭肥大が生じ、その軟骨肥厚の部位と程度により将来的な骨頭変形が生じている可能性が示唆された。ペルテス病に対する基本的治療コンセプトとされているcontainment（封じ込め）療法の基礎的メカニズム解明につながる世界で初めての研究成果である。また若年齢であるほど、虚血性骨壊死修復が速やかであることがわかり、そのメカニズム解明に向けて今後の発展が期待される結果が得られた。