Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (21): 4560-4567.doi: 10.12307/2025.190

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Modeling methods and evaluation criteria in animal models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Wu Xiuli1, Yan Xiaoxia2, Ren Zhiqiang2, Sun Nan2, Li Jinju2   

  1. 1Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 2Henan Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital (Henan Orthopedic Hospital), Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2024-03-19 Accepted:2024-06-11 Online:2025-07-28 Published:2024-12-06
  • Contact: Yan Xiaoxia, MD, Chief physician, Henan Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital (Henan Orthopedic Hospital), Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • About author:Wu Xiuli, Master candidate, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    2022 Youth Qihuang Scholar Training Project (to YXX); 2022 Henan Province Science and Technology Research Project, No. 232102310423 (to YXX); Henan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science Research Special Project, No. 2022ZYZD14 (to YXX); Henan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science Research Project, No. 2024ZY2115 (to YXX); Henan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science Research Project, No. 2024ZY2108 (to LJJ) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a key risk factor for non-traumatic femoral head necrosis, and the incidence of it has gradually increased in recent years, but its specific pathogenesis is still unclear, and finding a reasonable animal model is essential for disease research and treatment. 
OBJECTIVE: To review the commonly used animal models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in recent years, and to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different modeling methods and evaluation criteria, so as to provide a reference for follow-up research. 
METHODS: The articles published from 2013 to 2023 were searched in CNKI, WanFang Data, and PubMed with the keywords “femoral head necrosis, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, animal model.” Finally, 61 articles were involved for comprehensive analysis according to the inclusion criteria, including 38 English articles and 23 Chinese articles. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Rabbits, rats, and chickens are the animals that are widely used in the study of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head models. (2) Hormone combined with lipopolysaccharide or horse serum modeling has low mortality, high success rate, and strong stability. (3) Histopathology is the gold standard for the evaluation model, but the experiment needs to be terminated, which is not conducive to subsequent experimental research, so finding a non-invasive alternative method is still the direction of future efforts. (4) An ideal model of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head has not yet been explored, and future researchers need to continue to strive to achieve breakthroughs in this field as soon as possible. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, histopathology, animal models, modeling, review 

CLC Number: