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In a randomized, double-blind, controlled study by Vangsness et al., bone marrow derived stem cell injections were injected into the knee after meniscus surgery. In this study 55 patients underwent a partial medial meniscectomy, and 5-7 day after the surgery patients either had an injection of mesenchymal stem cells or sodium hyaluronate.
Conclusion: This was the first randomized, double blind, controlled study to evaluate the safety, regenerative effects and clinical outcome after mesenchymal stem cell injection injected into the knee. In this study, the group that had the stem cell injections demonstrated a significant increase in meniscal volume on MRI.
In this randomized, double-blind, controlled study by Vangsness et al., bone marrow derived stem cell injections were injected into the knee after meniscus surgery. In this study 55 patients underwent a partial medial meniscectomy, and 5-7 days after the surgery patients either had an injection of mesenchymal stem cells or sodium hyaluronate.
Conclusion: This was the first randomized, double blind, controlled study to evaluate the safety, regenerative effects and clinical outcome after mesenchymal stem cell injection injected into the knee. In this study, the group that had the stem cell injections demonstrated a significant increase in meniscal volume on MRI.
Mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs have the capacity to differentiate into connective tissue, including bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament or fat. These stem cells have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
Several pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells injected into the knee adhered to damaged meniscus tissue and differentiate into meniscal cells. This means these cells can turn into meniscal tissue, and resulted in regeneration of meniscal tissue.
This was the first randomized, double blind, controlled study to evaluate the safety, regenerative effects and clinical outcome after mesenchymal stem cell injection injected into the knee. Overall, the injections were well tolerated and the authors found that mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to regenerate meniscal tissue as evident by increased meniscal volume on MRI. These results were greatest in patients with associated knee arthritis (Vangsness et al. 2014).
Learn about other regenerative options for meniscal tears here.
The findings suggest that bone marrow aspirate derived stem cells have the “ability to mitigate the impact of the removal of meniscal tissue, which serves to protect the joint, particularly in patients who already have some signs of osteoarthritic changes and may be more at risk to further changes” (Vangsness et al. 2014)
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.
Meniscal tears are common and the trend is to offer treatments that preserve the meniscus. Learn more about alternatives to surgery.
To learn more about BMAC injections for meniscal tears contact us at:
Vangsness CT, Farr J, Boyd J, Dellaero DT, Mills CR, LeRoux-Williams M
(2014) Adult human mesenchymal stem cells delivered via intra-articular
injection to the knee following partial medial meniscectomy: a
randomized, double-blind, controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg Am
96:90–98.
Boston Sports & Biologics is now the 2nd location on the East Coast to perform the Thread Carpal Tunnel Release.
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