Subchondral and Intra-articular Application of Bone Marrow Concentrate for Knee Unicompartmental OA

Summary

Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common finding especially in patients with lower limb malalignment and previous meniscectomy. Among the various treatment options, in recent years there has been an increasing attention towards the use of biologic agents, such as platelet rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells, as intra-articular injective approaches to relieve pain and restore joint function. Anyway, the sole intra-articular administration of these agents may not lead to satisfactory outcome in a relevant percentage of patients. In fact, unicompartmental osteoarthritis is not only characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, but also by pathologic changes in the subchondral bone, both at the tibial plateaux and in the femoral condyle. Magnetic resonance imaging reveals, in many cases, alterations of the subchondral tissue known as "bone marrow edema", which is a sign of bone overload and play a significant role in the progression of unicompartmental OA and is responsible of OA-related symptoms. Therefore, concurrent treatment of both the subchondral bone damage and intra-articular degeneration could led to better outcome for patients affected by unicompartmental OA: the aim of the present pilot trial is to assess the safety and describe the clinical outcome following concurrent intra-articular and subchondral bone application of Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC). BMC is an autologous product rich in mesenchymal stem cells, which have immuno-modulatory and throfic properties and are able to restore the joint homeostasis by reducing the inflammatory distress traditionally associated to OA. BMC will be collected directly in the operating room from the anterior iliac crest or the tibia by using the MARROW CELLUTION kit (Geistlich, Switzerland), which allows to obtain BMC without the need of centrifugation processes. Approximately 9-10 ml of BMC will be harvested: 6 ml will be injected, under fluoroscopic guidance, in the tibial emiplateaux (approx 3 ml) and in the femoral condyle (approx 3 ml) presenting MRI evidence of bone marrow edema. The remaining amount of BMC will be administered intra-articularly to address articular tissues (cartilage, menisci and synovium). Twenty-five patients affected by unicompartmental knee OA will be included in the present pilot trial and treated in a "Day-Surgery" regimen. They will be followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months' after treatment by clinical questionnaires and radiographic evaluations (x-rays at 6 and 12 months, MRI at 12 months' f-up). Any intra-op and post-op adverse events will be documented.

Timeline

Start

2019-01

Primary completion

2021-07

Completion

2021-11

Publications

• Background Sanchez M, Delgado D, Sanchez P, Muinos-Lopez E, Paiva B, Granero-Molto F, Prosper F, Pompei O, Perez JC, Azofra J, Padilla S, Fiz N. Combination of Intra-Articular and Intraosseous Injections of Platelet Rich Plasma for Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:4868613. doi: 10.1155/2016/4868613. Epub 2016 Jul 4.
• Background Kwan Tat S, Lajeunesse D, Pelletier JP, Martel-Pelletier J. Targeting subchondral bone for treating osteoarthritis: what is the evidence? Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Feb;24(1):51-70. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2009.08.004.
• Background Dray A, Read SJ. Arthritis and pain. Future targets to control osteoarthritis pain. Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9(3):212. doi: 10.1186/ar2178.
• Background Pan J, Wang B, Li W, Zhou X, Scherr T, Yang Y, Price C, Wang L. Elevated cross-talk between subchondral bone and cartilage in osteoarthritic joints. Bone. 2012 Aug;51(2):212-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2011.11.030. Epub 2011 Dec 16.
• Background Sanchez M, Fiz N, Guadilla J, Padilla S, Anitua E, Sanchez P, Delgado D. Intraosseous infiltration of platelet-rich plasma for severe knee osteoarthritis. Arthrosc Tech. 2014 Dec 15;3(6):e713-7. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2014.09.006. eCollection 2014 Dec.
• Background Pretzel D, Linss S, Rochler S, Endres M, Kaps C, Alsalameh S, Kinne RW. Relative percentage and zonal distribution of mesenchymal progenitor cells in human osteoarthritic and normal cartilage. Arthritis Res Ther. 2011 Apr 15;13(2):R64. doi: 10.1186/ar3320.
• Background Hernigou P, Auregan JC, Dubory A, Flouzat-Lachaniette CH, Chevallier N, Rouard H. Subchondral stem cell therapy versus contralateral total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis following secondary osteonecrosis of the knee. Int Orthop. 2018 Nov;42(11):2563-2571. doi: 10.1007/s00264-018-3916-9. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

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