Is there a role for adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells in ACL reconstruction?

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2014 Jan;22(1):66-71. doi: 10.1007/s00167-012-2279-9. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells accelerate tendon-to-bone healing in the femoral tunnel, after hamstring anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: Forty-three patients underwent ACL reconstruction and were prospectively randomized into two groups: 20 patients in the experimental group (group A) with adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells and 23 patients in the control group (group B) without adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells. All patients underwent MRI of the knee at three months after surgery to evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio of the interzone.

Results: There was no difference in the signal-to-noise ratio of the interzone on MRI between the experimental and the control group.

Conclusions: Adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells do not seem to accelerate graft-to-bone healing in ACL reconstruction. The clinical relevance of this finding is that adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells apparently have a limited role in ACL reconstruction.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / surgery
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries*
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction*
  • Arthroscopy / methods
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Tendons / transplantation*
  • Wound Healing / physiology
  • Young Adult