Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC): A Regenerative Therapy for Joint and Tissue Repair

It is the therapy that incorporates the healing elements found within the body to heal any tissues. BMAC entails the process of taking centripetal stem cells, growth factors and platelets from a person and therefore focusing these elements for therapeutic uses.

BMAC is a fairly new introduced technique, as it is less than 10 years old. It does not involve any incisions, and is therefore provided for the treatment of joint related diseases, but not limited to osteoarthritis, tendinosis, and wear and tear of cartilage. Since the injected concentrated cells are infused in the localized area, BMAC facilitates tissue regeneration, reactivity modulation and healing of the tissues. It aims to give an advanced, non-invasive approach in place of the conventional management techniques so as to facilitate quick recovery with minimum pain to the patient.

How is BMAC extracted and utilized?

• Aspiration

The initial stage of BMAC extraction consists of obtaining bone marrow from the patient’s body. The small quantity of bone marrow is obtained from the hip bone (iliac crest) using a hollow needle and a syringe. This is done with local anesthesia or light sedation to reduce pain. The needle is placed inside the bone, and the bone marrow is sucked out with the help of a syringe. This bone marrow is important to the patient as it consists of various cells essential for tissue healing, including mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells and other constituents.

• Processing

Once the collection of bone marrow is complete, it is submitted to a processing step that is intended to focus the required healing elements. The collected, or aspirated, bone marrow is transferred into a centrifuge so that it can be rotated at a high speed in order to allow sedimentation of different elements within the bone marrow. This allows physicians to retrieve a layer in which mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors and platelets are present in a concentrated form, all of which are essential components responsible for tissue healing and regeneration, as well as mediating inflammation. Any other parts considered as waste such as red blood cells and plasma are removed from the obtained sample.

• Injection

When the bone marrow aspirate is completed from the patient, there is one last step before these substances are put to use. They are injected in the area that has been damaged or affected. It is also possible to direct the injection while using ultrasound or other imaging techniques to ensure accuracy. Once at the site of injury or damage, the concentrated stem cells, platelets and growth factors are combined in order to enhance healing, decrease inflammation and speed up the body’s own healing mechanisms.

Common Applications of BMAC

BMAC is most commonly used for orthopaedic conditions, particularly in sports medicine and arthritis treatment. Some of the key areas where BMAC therapy has shown promise include:

• Osteoarthritis: BMAC can help slow down the progression of osteoarthritis by promoting cartilage regeneration and reducing inflammation in joints.Tendon and ligament injuries: Chronic tendon issues like tendinopathies or ligament injuries may benefit from BMAC, as it can aid in tissue repair and recovery.
• Fracture healing: BMAC has been used to enhance healing in cases of non-union fractures (fractures that are not healing properly).
• Spinal conditions: Disc degeneration or other spinal issues may benefit from the regenerative capabilities of BMAC.
• Sports injuries: Athletes are increasingly turning to BMAC as a means to speed up recovery from injuries such as torn ligaments, muscle tears, and cartilage damage.

Advantages of BMAC

• Non invasive: Unlike surgery, BMAC requires no large incisions and has a shorter recovery period.
• Autologous treatment: Since the patient’s own cells are used, there is no risk of rejection or disease transmission.
• Potential to avoid surgery: In some cases, BMAC can delay or even prevent the need for surgery, such as joint replacement or tendon repairs.