Role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in treatment avascular necrosis of femoral head

Abstract

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head (FH) is a debilitating and painful disease with multiple etiologic risk factors head shows an increasing tendency and most commonly affects younger or middle-aged adults. Fifty patients (55 hips) with stage I, II or III avascular necrosis of femoral head were treated by autologous Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells injection. The patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for a minimum of 2 years at baseline, three, six, 12, and 24 months. The functional outcome was assessed in terms of Harris hip score, and disease progression was assessed radiologically by comparing the preoperative and follow-up MRI at the end of 2 years. On 2-year follow-up, there was considerable improvement in the hip function as measured by the Harris hip score (p = 0.041). On MRI, there was a decrease in the size of the lesion in group A (p = 0.03). Our findings showed that autologous Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in avascular necrosis of femoral head is a safe and effective procedure and has better outcome.