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

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

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.

Level of evidence

II.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedics Department, Hospital Militar D. Pedro V, Avenida da Boavista, 4050-113, Porto, Portugal

    Alcindo Silva

  2. Hospital da Boavista, 171, Avenida da Boavista, 4050-113, Porto, Portugal

    Ricardo Sampaio

  3. Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal

    Rui Fernandes

  4. Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School of University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Elisabete Pinto

Authors
  1. Alcindo Silva
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  2. Ricardo Sampaio
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  3. Rui Fernandes
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  4. Elisabete Pinto
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Correspondence to Alcindo Silva.

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Silva, A., Sampaio, R., Fernandes, R. et al. Is there a role for adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells in ACL reconstruction?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22, 66–71 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2279-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2279-9

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