How to choose fat (adipose) or bone marrow stem cells for your treatment

Adipose vs. bone marrow stem cells for joint arthritis

Arthritis remains a challenge with few good options, so treatments like stem cell therapy with PRP and other orthobiologics are getting growing attention. These therapies offer the possibility of pain relief and improved function for millions of people. Among the sources of adult stem cells, adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow are the two main reservoirs in the body that matter for orthopedic treatment.

These special cells use the body's natural repair mechanisms to do two main things: reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. Choosing between adipose and bone marrow stem cells can be a difficult decision, so this guide walks through the basics of each for treating joint arthritis.

Understanding adipose stem cells

Adipose stem cells come from fat tissue, typically collected with a liposuction-style procedure. At our clinic, this requires only a small amount of tissue and is relatively painless. Research suggests that adipose stem cells have anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to develop into various cell types, helping repair arthritic joints.

Potential advantages

• The harvest is minimally invasive and causes very little discomfort, because it's done with a numbing medication such as lidocaine.
• A larger number of stem cells can be collected, because the fat reservoir is much larger than the bone marrow reservoir.
• Fat tissue contains a natural scaffold that aids tissue repair, which is not found in bone marrow.

Possible disadvantages

• Historically there has been more research on bone marrow stem cell treatment, but adipose research is rapidly catching up.

Understanding bone marrow stem cells

Bone marrow stem cells are typically collected from the hip bone under local anesthesia with lidocaine, using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance. This makes the procedure efficient, because our doctors can see exactly which region of the hip bone will yield the most cells. Bone marrow stem cells have been used in medicine for a long time, and a large body of literature supports their safety. They are multipotent, meaning they can help many different tissues heal quickly.

Potential benefits

• They have long experience and research support behind them.
• Their effectiveness has been shown in treating bone, joint, cartilage, and ligament conditions.
• A wide variety of healing cells mature and develop in the bone marrow cavity and assist the healing process.

Possible drawbacks

• The collection method is a little more invasive.
• It can be more uncomfortable.
• Bone marrow is confined to a small space inside the bone, whereas the adipose reservoir is much larger.

Adipose and bone marrow stem cells as treatment options

Both types of cells have shown potential to reduce pain and improve function in osteoarthritis, cartilage and nerve damage, tendinopathies, and ligament strains. They differ, however, in how they are collected, cost, and accessibility.

Efficacy

Both adipose- and bone marrow-derived stem cells have shown positive results in animal studies and in a large number of human trials. Treatment outcomes depend on factors such as your health conditions, medications, age, weight, and the specific treatment protocol.

Being able to perform these procedures in an outpatient office is another major advantage, because it reduces cost and the risk of hospital-acquired infections. In more than 10 years, we have never seen an infection caused by our procedures, something few hospitals can say.

Accessibility

The cost of stem cell treatment can vary significantly depending on the technology used and where it is performed. We use state-of-the-art imaging, ultrasound and fluoroscopy, both to collect the stem cells and to inject them precisely where they are needed. If a clinic doesn't have these systems in place, we recommend looking elsewhere.

Conclusion

Adipose-derived and bone marrow stem cells each have their strengths and limitations. Adipose-derived cells offer an easier, less invasive collection method that can yield greater numbers of cells. Bone marrow cells, on the other hand, have a longer history of research and use in many different types of treatment.

Whichever cell source is right for you, we use it to treat a range of conditions, including knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, and lower back pain.

If you're considering stem cell therapy for arthritis, the essential first step is a conversation with one of our physicians, Dr. Roman Berezovski or Dr. Alan Locke, to review the research and your individual health needs. With expert guidance, you can make an informed decision and confidently explore what stem cell therapy can do for you. Ongoing research will continue to clarify the benefits of both cell sources and lead to even more effective arthritis treatments.

To discuss your case with one of our doctors, call a Care Coordinator at Spectrum Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center in Wauwatosa at (262) 202-8312.

Written by our physicians

Every procedure at Spectrum is performed by a physician — Dr. Roman Berezovski and Dr. Alan Locke work side by side, using live ultrasound or X-ray guidance to place treatment exactly where you hurt.

Dr. Roman Berezovski, MD Medical Director

Dr. Alan Locke, DO Clinic Director