Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC)
BMAC or Bone Marrow Concentrate is a concentrated solution of cells and proteins extracted from bone marrow. It contains stem cells, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors — proteins that trigger cellular growth and repair.
A bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue at the center of your bones that produces your blood cells. This process relies on stem cells and growth factors, making bone marrow an excellent source of them.
Healthcare providers harvest them in a procedure called bone marrow aspiration. They draw a sample of the liquid part of your bone marrow through a hollow needle. The sample is called bone marrow aspirate.
They produce bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) by processing and distilling this sample. The concentrated form is about six times denser with cells and growth factors than the original aspirate.
Conditions That Are Treated By Bone Marrow Concentrate
Current research and clinical findings indicate that moderate to severe cases of osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, and ligament injuries exhibit encouraging outcomes. A variety of conditions are suitable for treatment with Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC).
- Knee Pain: Osteoarthritis, Meniscus Tears (Medial and Lateral), Chondromalacia Patella, tendon injuries (Patellar Tendonitis, Quadriceps Tendon), ligament sprains or tears (MCL, LCL, ACL)
- Hip Pain: Osteoarthritis, Hip Labrum Tears, Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction, Piriformis Syndrome, Greater Trochanteric Bursitis, Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Shoulder Pain: Osteoarthritis, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, Tendonopathy, Partial Tears, Labrum Tear, Bicipital Tendinitis
- Elbow Pain: Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow), Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
- Wrist and Hand Pain: Osteoarthritis, DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis
- Ankle and Foot Pain: Achilles Tendinitis or Partial Tears, Plantar Fasciitis, Ankle Sprains/Ligament Injuries
- Spine: Facet Joint Arthropathy, Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction.
Working Mechanism of Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC)
BMAC is rich in concentrated stem cells and growth factors that enhance tissue growth and repair. Stem cells exist in their primitive state before differentiating into various tissue types.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are specifically responsible for replenishing soft tissues, cartilage, and bone. Although they are less prevalent in bone marrow compared to other stem cell types, a concentrated dose can significantly improve outcomes.
Additionally, BMAC aids in the healing process by mitigating inflammation and reducing scarring (fibrosis). Chronic or severe inflammation can result in scarring, which, while a form of healing, differs from true regeneration.
Scar tissue is characterized by dense, fibrous material that often lacks the same blood supply, flexibility, or functionality as the original tissue. In contrast, tissue regeneration involves the replacement of damaged cells with identical cell types.
Procedure of Bone Marrow Concentrate
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMC) is a technique in regenerative medicine that entails the extraction of bone marrow from the pelvic region, followed by the isolation of stem cells and growth factors, which are subsequently reinjected into the targeted area.
This method has proven to be highly effective in alleviating joint pain, particularly in conditions such as osteoarthritis, ligament injuries, and various musculoskeletal disorders.
The Three-Step BMC Procedure
Pre-Injection: Joint Preparation with Prolotherapy
The initial phase of the BMC procedure is the pre-injection stage, which takes place several days prior to the actual BMC injection. In this stage, a solution known as prolotherapy is administered into the joint, guided by ultrasound or X-ray, to stimulate an inflammatory response in the treatment area.
This induced inflammation serves to prepare the joint for the forthcoming BMC injection, akin to “tilling the soil” before sowing seeds. This preparatory step enhances the joint’s ability to respond to the regenerative effects of the stem cells and growth factors that will be introduced subsequently.
BMC Day: Harvesting and Administering Stem Cells
The second phase involves the BMC procedure itself. On this day, we collect bone marrow from your pelvic bone and subsequently process it to extract the stem cells and growth factors. These powerful regenerative elements are then injected directly into the injured or affected joint.
This process can be likened to “planting seeds” in a garden, where the stem cells and growth factors facilitate the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues, fostering healing from within.
Post-Injection: Promoting Recovery with PRP
The concluding step of the BMC procedure takes place two days after the initial injection. During this stage, we administer Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) into the joint. PRP, which is obtained from your own blood, is abundant in growth factors that further amplify the activity of the stem cells introduced earlier.
This phase can be compared to “fertilizing the seeds” to promote optimal growth and healing. The PRP injection enhances the effectiveness of the stem cells, resulting in improved and expedited recovery.
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Benefits of Bone Marrow Concentrate
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injections promote tissue regeneration and facilitate healing in cases of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. While they do not serve as a definitive cure, they can act as a valuable adjunctive therapy. The benefits include:
- Alleviating symptoms such as inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
- Stimulating the healing process for chronic or nonhealing wounds.
- Accelerating recovery from injuries.
- Possibly improving outcomes in reconstructive surgery or grafting procedures.
Risk of Bone Marrow Concentrate
The likelihood of complications arising from BMAC injections is minimal. The primary side effect experienced is temporary pain and swelling, which typically subsides within a few days. Other potential adverse effects may include:
- A short-term inflammatory response, such as fever or rash.
- Increased bleeding or infection at the injection site.
- Damage to adjacent blood vessels or nerves.
- Lack of improvement following the treatment.
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Conclusion
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) remains an innovative and experimental treatment option. Medical professionals are continuing to explore its comprehensive capabilities in addressing musculoskeletal disorders and the most effective methods for its application.
For individuals suffering from chronic wounds or degenerative joint diseases that have not improved with conventional therapies, this potential is significant. Injections offer a straightforward approach to evaluating the benefits that BMAC may provide.