Bone Marrow is one common storage site for a type of stem cell known as mesenchymal signaling cells (MSCs). Similar to platelet rich plasma, MSCs utilizes paracrine (local) and endocrine (distant) signaling to promote homeostasis of the tissue environment.
While MSCs do have regenerative capacity, it has NOT been shown to regrow cartilage in humans. Instead MSCs functional as signaling cells that downregulate the enzymes and pro-inflammatory markers responsible for joint degeneration as well as recruiting fibroblast and collagen proliferation to heal diseased tissue and improve pain.
In knee osteoarthritis, multiple studies have demonstrated BMAC to be superior to hyaluronic acid (HA), which has been previously demonstated to delay or even prevent knee replacement surgery.
When combined with HA, BMAC has been shown to have a 95% success rate and significant improvement in walking distance even at 4-year follow up in patient’s with severe (Grade III-IV) knee osteoarthritis in a 2024 study by Pabinger et al.
BMAC is NOT covered by insurance and is associated with an out of pocket cost.
Learn more about the benefits of BMAC and other orthobiologics at our blog!
If you have suffered from tendon or joint pain for more than 6 weeks, conservative approaches haven’t helped, and are interested in discussing minimally invasive treatment, please call our office (269) 883-6052 or contact us to schedule a consultation.
