Last Wednesday afternoon at my health club, I happened to see a former patient who had chosen hip surgery rather than undergo the Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate program for the treatment of his hip arthritis. Earlier on the same day, I had performed a BMAC therapy for the father-in-law of a second patient about the same age as the former who had opted for stem cells rather than surgery. I had an opportunity for a live update.  Since they are essentially the same age and both very athletic, the contrast in outcomes is worth a Blog.

Patient one was age 38 and head athletic trainer at my local health club when I successfully performed a left hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Two years ago, at age 40, he returned to my office with a very symptomatic Grade 2 arthritic right hip and I gave him a fully informed consent about stem cells. He opted to go elsewhere and undergo right hip arthroscopic surgery. Three days postoperative, he was readmitted with septic arthritis. After an arthroscopic wash out, he was placed on intravenous antibiotics and discharged. Three weeks thereafter, because of increasing hip pain, he returned to his surgeon who diagnosed osteomyelitis, admitted him to the hospital and removed his femoral head replacing the latter with an antibiotic impregnated spacer. Intravenous antibiotics were continued for three months.  He then returned to the operating room and underwent a right total hip replacement. Because of his crutch dependency for over 12 months, he was unable to work as an athletic trainer and forced to declare personal bankruptcy.  When I saw him last week, he had a noticeable right hip limp and told me he could not work full time because of right hip pain.

Patient two is age 38. He is an avid cyclist who had experienced progressive osteoarthritic right hip pain to a point where he was forced to stop competing this spring. He then sought my opinion when he was not able to walk a city block because of severe pain from his right hip. It took several sessions of informed consent before patient two decided to undergo stem cell management via BMAC in an attempt to relieve pain.  Not only was he relieved of pain, he returned to competitive cycling this summer and most recently has competed in a sport, new to me, wherein you cycle and run resembling a steeplechase “Cyclo-cross”.

Stem Cell management of osteoarthritis is based on an understanding of the biologic mechanisms that lead to the disease and associated pain. In osteoarthritis, the entire joint is involved as this bioimmune disease affects cartilage, ligaments and capsule as well as the lining synovium. Concentrated Stem Cells provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cartilage –protective effects.  To learn more, surf my web site or call for an appointment.