Stem cells might help knee arthritis patients avoid surgery

BOSTON - Nearly half of all adults will develop arthritis of the knee in their lifetime but one day, stem cells could help patients avoid surgery.

Osteoarthritis of the knee causes the cartilage to break down and the bones of the joint to rub together, causing stiffness, swelling, pain and limited mobility. Treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy, but most patients eventually go on to have knee replacement surgery. Stem cells could one day change that.

Researchers in China examined previous studies involving 875 patients and found that those who received injections of stem cells directly into the affected knee reported considerably less pain, especially when the stem cells were obtained from umbilical cords or the patient's own fat. Stem cells are thought to repair damaged tissue, promote the growth of new cartilage, and reduce inflammation.

The treatment is not yet FDA approved and more research is needed to make sure it's safe and effective.

In:
• Health

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

Twitter Facebook