Helping A Knee Patient with Stem Cells who had Failed Microfracture

failed microfracture

JC is a 66 year old man who had a skiing accident in 1990’s which injured his knee. As a result of these injuries he both stopped skiing and playing raquetball/tennis. When he was first seen by our clinic last year to see if it was possible to avoid knee surgery for his knee arthritis, his knee pain level was a 6/10. He had already had a failed microfracture knee procedure, which is more common in patients over 45 years of age. He was lucky in that despite his severe arthritis, he did get temporary relief from an annual Synvisc injection. When he was seen in clinic, he reported to us that he had a recurrent Baker’s cyst that would get worse as he exercised and on his exam it was clear his ACL ligament was loose. His MRI showed severe arthritis which included severe degeneration of the ACL ligament with chronic partial tearing, severe medial osteoarthritis (bone on bone), complete  radial tear of the posterior medial meniscus which was extruded and outside the joint. The patient was told he needed a knee replacement, but because of the risks and the complications he knew he needed to try something else first. Despite only being a POOR-FAIR candidate for a knee stem cell procedure, he had a Regenexx-SD procedure in October 2010/Jan 2011/March 2011. He reported to us last week, that at 5 months out from his last injection of stem cells, that his knee was 90% better. He also reported improvements in walking distance, pain and range of motion. In this case, we’re pleasantly surprised by the fact that JC responded so well despite severe arthritis. Like many patients with a loose ACL, tightening that ligament with injections as part of the Regenexx-SD process may have made all the difference.

Learn More About Regenexx® Procedures
Request a digital booklet and more information to learn about alternatives to orthopedic surgery and the Regenexx patient experience.
We do not sell, or share your information to third party vendors. By submitting the form you agree that you've read and consent to our Privacy Policy.
Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications. View Profile

If you have questions or comments about this blog post, please email us at [email protected]

NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.

TO TOP