Bone Abstracts

Objectives: We have performed a novel cell therapy using culture-expanded bone marrow cells (BMC) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) during limb lengthening procedure since 2002. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of the cell therapy on new bone regenerates in patients with achondroplasia (ACH) and hypochondroplasia (HCH).

Methods: The transplantation technique of BMC and PRP was described previously (Bone 40: 522–528, 2007). Inclusion criteria of this study were ACH or HCH patients who underwent lower limb lengthening at out hospital and followed up at least 12 months after removal of the fixation pins. A total of 37 patients (112 legs) were included and these patients were separated into two groups; the BMC group that was treated with BMC and PRP transplantation, and control group that had no additional cell therapy. Clinical outcome was defined as either good (healing index of 50 days/cm or less with no adverse events that required any additional treatment) or poor (healing index of more than 50 days/cm or needed additional procedures with or without surgical intervention). Age at surgery, the amount of length gained, and clinical outcome was compared between the two groups.

Results: The BMC group consisted of 68 legs in 23 patients while the control group consisted of 44 legs in 14 patients. There were no significant differences in the age of surgery and the length gained between the two groups. Good outcome, on the other hand, was significantly higher in the BMC group than in the control group (Table 1).

Conclusion: Transplantation of BMC and PRP provided better clinical outcome in lower limb lengthening for short stature patients.

Disclosure: The authors declared no competing interests.