Bone Marrow Stem Cells

There's been a lot of interest in developing alternatives to autograft and the associated complications of iliac crest bone harvesting. One emerging alternative is to obtain the rich source of stem cells and proteins found in autograft without surgically harvesting the bone.

The bone marrow cavity in the hip contains a source of multipotent stem cells, platelets, growth factors, adhesion molecules, and other proteins responsible for tissue repair and regeneration. Through simple aspiration, a physician can obtain all of these cells from the bone marrow.

Concentrated bone marrow contains enhanced levels of:

Bone Marrow-Mesenchemyl Stem (BM-MS) Cells for bone formation

BM-MS cells decrease with age
Concentrating mimics the cell load and healing potential of young patients
Convert directly to bone and work in areas of hypoxia

Endothelial Stem Cells for supporting vasculature

Healing is impaired until the vasculature is restored
Converts directly to vasculature
Stimulate BM-MS cells
Stimulated by and work in areas of hypoxia

Hematopoietic Stem Cells for supplying nutrients

Form blood cells
Cell-to-cell contact with BM-MS cells stimulate osteogenesis

Platelets to modulate the regeneration process

Recruit bone marrow progenitor cells to foci of injury
Provide adhesion sites for stem cells
Platelet-fibrin clot/network provides migration highway at the site of injury

Adhesion Molecules

Mediate cell-to-cell adhesion
Maintenance of tissue integration, wound healing, and cellular migration