Researchers at the Columbia-based University of Missouri found that cartilage removed during hip surgery may be viable for reuse in regenerative treatment.
The study, published in June in Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, examined tissue taken from patients undergoing surgery for femoral acetabular impingement. Cartilage cells, or chondrocytes, were isolated and cultured in a lab. Of 55 samples collected, 41 (74.5%) expanded to more than 20 million cells within about 34 days — the minimum threshold for cell-based cartilage restoration procedures.
The findings suggest tissue normally discarded after surgery could be reimplanted into the hip joint to reduce pain and support recovery. Researchers noted no differences in success based on age or sex, but patient body mass index was significantly associated with expansion outcomes, according to an Aug. 19 news release from the health system.
