Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have worked in partnership with Cytex Therapeutics, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina. These two teams have identified a potentially viable means to make hip replacements a thing of the past using stem cell innovations.
No More Hip Replacements
The researchers believe that using their innovations, hip replacements will become history. Their approach triggers stem cells to grow human cartilage on a framework that matches the ball joint of your hip. By using your own stem cells (or stem cell-rich blood/tissue you have stored), you will be able to use these cells to repair internal joint damage. All of this comes without the need for complex surgery and the accompanying months of intense rehabilitation therapy.
Further, the research team has devised a mechanism through genetic modification that will enable the implanted stem cells to release anti-inflammatory properties on demand. This is a tremendous bonus since arthritis is the most common source of pain.
Joint replacement is typically a solution reserved for patients over the age of 50. The reason is because the replacement is only designed to last approximately 20-years, requiring a follow-up replacement. Additionally, surgeons will look to other options rather than replacement. Because of this, the stem cell approach to hip replacements may open the door to a large group of younger patients that have degenerative joint disease.
Next Stage of Clinical Trials
Researchers have been able to successfully generate a layer of cartilage over what they describe as a scaffolding model of the ball joint. Their next step is to continue this research and ultimately conduct clinical trials on patients.
The procedure would include the removal of worn out cartilage from the joint. That is followed by a replacement with stem cell-generated cartilage. Low risk of rejection exists because replacement cartilage will have come from matched stem cells, according to the research team.
Finally, the team indicates that they are 3-5 years away from seeing trials in human patients.
This research was published in the June 18 journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
