Johnson LG, Jones CE, Rosenbaum DG, et al. Early age-related changes to articular cartilage T1ρ in hips with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease deformity. Osteoarthr Cartil Open. 2025;7(2):100589. Published 2025 Feb 27. doi:10.1016/j.ocarto.2025.100589
A paper produced as part of Dr. Luke Johnson’s PhD research has been highlighted among the Top 10 Research Advancements of 2025 by Arthritis Society Canada. Arthritis Society Canada selects its annual Top 10 Research Discoveries from Society-funded research projects across the country.
The paper, which Johnson produced with the support of co-supervisors Dr. Kishore Mulpuri and Dr. David Wilson, addresses a critical gap in the clinical understanding of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (Perthes’ disease).
Perthes’ disease is a rare childhood hip condition that can have lifelong impacts. In this disease, the ball of the femur temporarily loses its blood supply, leading to weakening and collapse of the bone. The surrounding tissues and hip joint can also be damaged. As blood flow returns, the bone regrows, but some patients are left with a permanent deformity. The causes of Perthes’ disease are still unclear, but the damage it causes can lead to arthritis later in life.
“The disease isn’t well understood by researchers or clinicians, and because it only occurs in children and teens, patients can age out of pediatric care before we see how Perthes’ deformities have affected the health of the joint into adulthood,” said Dr. Johnson, who completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UBC and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Northeastern University. “Once a patient is considered healed, there may not be long-term support for the downstream impacts of Perthes’, which can include early-onset osteoarthritis.”
Dr. Johnson and the Hippy Lab team at BC Children’s Hospital collected MRI and other clinical data from patients with Perthes’. Using the T1RHO imaging sequence, they identified baseline and degenerative markers of cartilage health. This helped them see how Perthes’ affects hip joint growth and repair over time. They discovered that cartilage health changes with age in hips with Perthes’-related deformity are different from those in hips without the condition.
People who have had Perthes’ are more likely to develop osteoarthritis earlier in adulthood. Osteoarthritis is painful, usually affects older adults, and can limit movement and quality of life. Since Perthes’ is a childhood disorder, care often does not continue into adulthood. This means young adults with osteoarthritis may have to manage on their own, without clear guidelines for ongoing care. As a result, treatment for Perthes’-related pain in adults is often inconsistent and only given when problems arise.
“Recognition of this work from Arthritis Society Canada is a reflection of Luke’s diligence as a researcher,” said Dr. Mulpuri. “Within his first year with us, he managed to secure a CIHR grant and do all of the heavy lifting to get this study underway.”
“We found a lot of value in working with Luke, who, as an engineer, brought his expertise to not only this, but a number of Hippy Lab projects,” Mulpuri continued. “The research has extended beyond UBC and BC Children’s Hospital to include a number of collaborators. Luke has exemplified our ethos of ‘stronger together’ and collaboration over competition. Most importantly, his work to establish a baseline for cartilage health will inform research and clinical care beyond Perthes’.”