Mesenchymal stem cells: A new strategy for the treatment of femoral head necrosis

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVFH) is an orthopaedic disease triggered by ischaemic injury that is characterized by structural destruction of the femoral head and loss of function and severely affects the quality of life of patients. Currently, core decompression, bone grafting with vascularized tips, and artificial hip replacement are the main surgical treatment options used in clinical practice; however, these methods generally have limitations, such as trauma, high cost, and long postoperative recovery periods, which impose significant physiological and economic burdens on patients. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in the field of bone tissue engineering because of their unique biological properties. MSCs can self-renew and undergo multidirectional differentiation into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and endothelial cells, and can also regulate the local microenvironment and promote the vascularization of the hip through the secretion of biologically active substances. MSCs can regulate the local microenvironment and promote new blood vessel and bone tissue regeneration through the secretion of growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes. The advantages of MSCs, such as easy access to materials, strong proliferation ability in vitro and stable osteogenic differentiation potential, make them ideal seed cells for femoral head necrosis

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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