PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of mesenchymal stem cells injections for treatment of post-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

METHODS

A total of 46 patients were eligible and enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients were treated with cell therapy and 23 patients with hip arthroplasty (control group). During a minimum follow-up duration of 10years, radiographs were used to evaluate the radiological results, and the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and visual analog scale were chosen to assess the clinical results.

RESULTS

For the cell therapy group, the product obtained by bone marrow aspiration in the iliac crest before concentration had a mean value of 2480 MSCs/mL (range 730 to 3800). The concentration product was containing average 9300 MSCs/mL (range 3930 to 19,800). At the most recent follow-up (average 15years after the first surgery, range 10 to 20years), among the 23 hips treated with cell therapy (concentrate bone marrow), 6 hips (26%) had collapsed and had required total hip arthroplasty (THA) without revision. Among the 23 hips treated with a primary THA, 7 (30.4%) had required one revision (second THA) at a mean follow-up of 6years (range 1 to 12years); two of these 7 hips had a re-revision; principal causes of revision were recurrent dislocations (3 cases) aseptic loosening (3 revisions) and infection (1 revision). As consequence, we observed significant (P<0.01) better survival time before revision for the cell therapy group. Better results with cell therapy were obtained for treatment at early stages before collapse.

CONCLUSION

The present study has demonstrated encouraging effects of cell therapy in early post-traumatic hip osteonecrosis and provides another choice for treatment in early stages I to II.