Cell-based Treatments of Femoral Head Osteonecrosis: A Literature Review

The preferred desire of orthopedic surgeons is to preserve the femoral head in the early stages of femoral head osteonecrosis; however, hip arthroplasty is needed in most cases. The outcomes of traditional surgical treatments alone are not favorable. Thus, femoral head osteonecrosis frequently follows an unpredictable course resulting in significant hip arthritis. Through the years, it has been identified that decreased proliferation capacity and content of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in the femoral head region play a key role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). In the past two decades, researchers have focused on cell-based therapies for ONFH treatment. The regenerative potential of damaged cartilage and bone tissue with stem cells has become a new treatment approach in the field of orthopedics. Ongoing basic science and clinical studies are progressing toward efficient standard treatment options for this extremely challenging condition. In this article, we reviewed the recently developed methods of cell therapy for these types of musculoskeletal conditions.