Bone Marrow Cell Therapy
What is bone marrow cell therapy?
Bone marrow cell therapy has emerged as an innovative and promising advancement in orthopedics and sports medicine. This minimally invasive, natural-based approach uses the patient’s own cells to treat orthopedic injuries, conditions, and pain.
The Orthohealing Center’s pioneering physiatrists are leaders in the research, development, and advancement of bone marrow cell therapy, and our patients benefit tremendously from their collective knowledge and expertise. Committed to administering treatment with the utmost in comfort, efficacy, and efficiency, our team has established best practice protocols and educated doctors around the world on them via published research, medical conferences, cadaver labs, and instructional videos.
To learn more about our peer-reviewed publications on bone marrow concentrate, please visit our Research page.
Understanding how bone marrow cell therapy works
Immediately after an acute injury, blood vessels release medicinal signaling cells (MSCs) or “pericytes” that migrate towards the affected area to initiate the healing cascade. These “mobile paramedics” are naturally produced by the body to repair damage and diseased tissue. However, chronic pain, inflammation, and limited function develop when a body is too physically stressed to effectively heal itself.
Ongoing research will allow us to better quantify how the application of proteins within bone marrow cells can potentially address various orthopedic injuries, conditions, and pain.
What to expect during bone marrow cell therapy
This nonsurgical, minimally invasive approach uses natural proteins derived from bone marrow cells for the reduction of inflammation and pain. This single-day treatment is separated into the steps described below.
- From a reclined position, the patient receives oral or IV medications and local anesthetic (numbing medicine) to ensure a comfortable experience and minimize stress and anxiety; oral nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is also available.
- A small needle is used to carefully extract bone marrow from the back of the patient’s hip (PSIS), with dynamic ultrasound or x-ray fluoroscopic guidance for precise visualization.
- The bone marrow aspirate is concentrated in a centrifuge to isolate the desirable cells and proteins.
- The concentrated material is injected directly into the damaged region(s) with minimal manipulation.
- Bandages are applied to the area at the conclusion of a treatment session.
- The recovery process begins.
How long does a bone marrow cell therapy session take?
Although the duration of an appointment varies based on each patient’s case, bone marrow cell therapy typically takes about 90 minutes.
What to expect before and after bone marrow cell therapy
Patients should avoid anti-inflammatory medicines including but not limited to Advil and Aleve one week before the scheduled procedure. Blood thinners are usually discontinued by the prescribing physician prior to the procedure.
Patients may be provided a compression sleeve to reduce inflammation and improve circulation post-procedure.
Those receiving treatment should arrange for transportation to and from bone marrow cell therapy appointments.
The injection site may be sore for 48 to 72 hours after a bone marrow cell therapy treatment, during the early inflammation phase. Relative rest is advised for the first two days of recovery. although weight bearing is encouraged (except for patients who receive hip joint injections).
Physical therapy should begin five days post-procedure.
Patients are to return to the Orthohealing Center after six to eight weeks for a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection booster.
How many bone marrow cell therapy treatments are needed?
Our patients typically receive a single bone marrow procedure. A platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection booster is administered approximately six to eight weeks later. We may recommend additional noninvasive treatments as well.
Does bone marrow cell therapy have any side effects?
Patients may experience temporary symptoms such as worsened pain or inflammation after undergoing bone marrow cell therapy. These side effects generally resolve themselves within several days. As with any injection, there is a minor risk of infection.
Is bone marrow cell therapy painful?
With their breadth of experience, compassion, and dedication to advancing the field of regenerative medicine, our doctors have established best practice protocols for bone marrow cell therapy. These efforts were designed to maximize patient comfort and treatment efficiency and efficacy.
The process begins with a local anesthetic delivered to the area from which the cells will be drawn. Medications are then administered to reduce pain and / or anxiety. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is also available. Lastly, ultrasound or x-ray is used to precisely guide the needle for the bone marrow draw and subsequent injection.
Is bone marrow cell therapy right for you?
Although bone marrow cell therapy is a promising approach for numerous orthopedic ailments, not everyone is an ideal candidate. Contraindications include, but are not limited to, a history of lymphoma, leukemia, and certain blood diseases. A thorough intake and medical assessment are necessary to evaluate each patient’s suitability for this therapy.
