Recently Keeling et al. performed a systematic review evaluating the efficacy of bone marrow aspirate concentrated injections for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC, is a safe and reliable source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and one of the few forms of stem cell delivery in compliance with the US FDA guidelines (Chahla et al. 2016).
In this systematic review, 8 studies and 299 knees injections were included with over a 12-month follow-up.
Conclusion: The authors found that bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells were effective with overall excellent outcomes. Patients who had BMAC injections had a significant improvement in pain and function associate with their knee osteoarthritis.
Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where the articular cartilage lining the knee joint wears down. This wear and tear is accompanied by inflammation and a progressive worsening of the condition.
Knee arthritis is estimated to affect over 30 million Americans (Hootman et al. 2006), with 80% of cases affecting the knee (Vos et al. 2012). Traditional non-operative treatment has shown limited efficacy in preventing progression of knee osteoarthritis.
Historically, knee osteoarthritis is managed with weight loss, modifying activity, physical therapy, bracing, cortisone injections and viscosupplementation or hyaluronic acid injections. Despite these nonoperative treatements arthritis typically progresses.
The increasing incidence of osteoarthritis has let to an interest in biologic therapies to alter the underlying progression of arthritis. Cell-based therapies including PRP, micro-fragmented adipose treatments (MFAT) and bone marrow concentrate derived stem cells are a few of the forms of regenerative injections.
Mesencyhmal stem cells have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties to address the underlying biochemical pathology in arthritis.
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC, is a safe and reliable source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and one of the few forms of stem cell delivery in compliance with the US FDA guidelines.
Learn about alternatives to surgery for knee osteoarthritis, including PRP/platelet rich plasma and viscosupplementation injections.
Learn more about FDA guidelines that regulate orthobiologics and consumer protections. Ensure your stem cell procedure is safe and complies with existing guidelines.
For consultation to see if you are a candidate contact us at:
Athletic pubalgia is a set of pelvic injuries involving the tendons that attach to the front of the pelvis. Treatment options include both nonoperative and operative interventions. Platelet-Rich plasma (PRP) and
Read More