Early Clinical Outcomes of Intra-Articular Injections of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for the Treatment of Early Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee: A Cohort Study

Background: Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) is one of the few cell-based therapies available as a possible biological treatment for early osteoarthritis (OA). Its efficacy, safety, and benefit compared with other treatments are still to be determined.

Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing intra-articular injection of BMC for the treatment of early knee and hip OA.

Design: Prospective, cohort study.

Setting: Single institution, quaternary level of care.

Patients: Nineteen patients (16 female and 3 male), totaling 25 joints (10 knees, 15 hips), treated with intra-articular BMC for early OA between 2014 and 2016. The mean age at time of the procedure was 58 ± 12.7 years (range, 30-80 years). The mean follow-up was 13.2 ± 6.3 months (range, 6-24 months). Inclusion criteria included ≥18 years; knee OA, Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-II; hip OA, Tönnis grade I-II; first-time intra-articular BMC therapy, after unsuccessful symptomatic and conservative treatments (ie, physical therapy, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs) for 6 months. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy; malignancy; rheumatologic diseases; infection; Kellgren-Lawrence grade III-IV; Tönnis grade III; and previous intra-articular injections or surgery.

Interventions: All patients had autologous bone marrow aspirate harvested from the iliac crest and centrifuged to achieve BMC, for intra-articular injection.

Main outcome measurements: The hypothesis was formulated before the study. Patient-reported outcomes measures were assessed preoperatively and at last follow-up using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index.

Results: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index improved from a baseline of 40.8 ± 18.3% to 20.6 ± 17% (P < .001) at final follow-up. The satisfaction rate was 63.2%. The minimal clinically important difference threshold of 9.15 points was reached by 64% of the patients. Two patients were converted to total hip arthroplasty at 8 months after BMC injection.

Conclusions: Intra-articular injections of BMC for the treatment of early knee or hip OA were safe and demonstrated satisfactory results in 63.2% of patients. Future studies are necessary to determine the efficacy of this technique and its safety profile.

Level of evidence: II.