Core Decompression of the Hip and Stem Cell Therapy
For young patients with early stages of osteonecrosis, core decompression is the preferred treatment. The procedure involves drilling being done into the dead bone tissue. Drilling has many benefits: it reduces swelling, allows better flow of blood, and inhibits further damage to the bones. The success of the procedure is dependent on how much of the bone has already suffered damage, which part of the bone has been damaged, the amount of weight, the stress the joint is subjected to, etc. An MRI done ahead of the surgery will tell the surgeon exactly which bone tissue needs removal. This removal will stimulate the production of healthy bone tissue.
The bone marrow that is present inside the bones contains stem cells. These stem cells can change into bone cells when they are injected into the body. This stem cell therapy is used along with core decompression for a better surgical outcome.