Cure of AVN

In India there is one GOLD STANDARD cell based treatment available that has shown promising results in more than 250 patients with more than 98% success rate. It is done in two simple minimally-invasive steps – Harvesting Biopsy and Implantation.

Step I: Harvesting Biopsy

The cell based treatment is personalized and autologous, where you will be asked to admit for a short day care procedure in the hospital. A small quantity (4 ml) of your bone marrow (thick blood tissue within the flat or round ends of bones) will be taken out with a long needle. A special Biopsy Kit will be used to collect and transport this bone marrow biopsy for cell processing. Collected bone marrow specimen is sent under temperature controlled mode to cell processing center (Laboratory) for cell culturing for about 4-6 weeks to grow your own bone forming cells, Osteoblasts in a controlled environment.

Step II: Implantation of live cultured Osteoblast cells

This involves small opening through a small incision, necrotic (dead) bone is gently removed with the help of curette; followed by implantation of patient’s own live cultured bone cells (Osteoblasts) at defect area of hip joint(s). Once the cell dose is ready, you will be again asked to get admitted in the hospital. The entire procedure to implant in your body may take not more than 30 minutes and is done under anesthesia.

The aim of this treatment is to CURE AVN by helping body for forming completely new healthy bone tissue and stops the disease process through osteogenesis and new vascularisation. This is a completely natural way to regenerating true bone tissues and does not require any repetition like artificial hip replacement. Proper rehabilitation and exercises will help you regain all normal movements and activities including running, jumping, sitting down, using the stairs, walking without limp and support.

• Non-operative treatment for symptomatic AVN of the hip.
• Restricted patient weight bearing with the use of a cane or crutches has been useful only in controlling symptoms and also does little to alter disease progression.

Surgical treatment of AVN can be broadly categorized as either prophylactic measures (to retard progression) or reconstruction procedures (after femoral head collapse)

• Core decompression: One or more cores of necrotic femoral head bone is removed in order to stimulate repair. Core decompression is often supplemented with bone grafting (cancellous autograft or structural allograft) to enhance mechanical support and augment healing.
• Osteotomies: It is performed to move necrotic bone away from primary weight-bearing areas in the hip joint. This technique may delay arthroplasty, but used for small pre-collapse or early post-collapse of the femoral head in patients who don’t have an ongoing cause of AVN.
• Arthroscopic evaluation: It can help better define the extent of chondral flaps, joint degeneration, even joint collapse and may help with the temporary relief of synovitis.

• Prosthetic replacement is used as most predictable means of pain relief in advanced AVN.
• Femoral resurfacing arthroplasty: Mainly used for younger patients. Both the femoral head and acetabulum are “resurfaced” with metal, indicating minimal bone resection. However, there is a 1% incidence of femoral neck fracture with this procedure.
• Bipolar arthroplasty is used when the replacement takes place on both sides of the body, such as both knees and hips.
• Total hip arthroplasty is used when damaged bone and cartilage is removed and replaced with prosthetic components. The damaged femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem that is placed into the hollow centre of the femur.