Iliac crest and femoral bone marrow as the source of plastic-adherent cells.

Background: Many studies have used iliac crest as the source of mesenchymal stem cells. In cases of long bone shaft fracture, obtaining marrow from the fracture site offers more advantages. Nevertheless, due to the high number of fat cells in long bones, the yellow marrow of long bones is believed to contain lower number of mesenchymal stem cells than red marrow. Therefore the aim of this study is to compare the potency between red and yellow marrow as the donor site for the isolation of mesenchymal stem cell. Methods: Bone marrow of eight giant Flemish rabbits was aspirated from the iliac crest and femoral shaft. Mononuclear cells were isolated from both aspirates and expanded in low glucose DMEM. After eight weeks, the cells were harvested and counted using improved Neubauer hemocytometer. Comparison of the cell number between the two donor sites was then performed by t-test. Results: After 8 weeks, an average number of 2.93 ± 0.91 x 104 and 3.7 ± 2.50 x 104 cells were obtained from the iliac and femoral group respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between those two groups (p = 0.45). Conclusion: Plastic-adherent cells can be isolated and expanded from both iliac crest and femoral shaft.

Implantation of Homologous Cancellous Bone and Autologous Red Marrow under Endoscope for Bone Nonunion and Bone Defect / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of implantation of homologous cancellous and autologous red marrow under endoscope in the treatment of traumatic bone nonunion or bone defect.MethodsTotally 25 patients with traumatic bone nonunion or bone defect were enrolled in this study.The lesion involved the tibia bone in 9 cases,the femur in 13,and the humerus in 3.The grafts were sized 1 to 6 cm in length(mean,2.7 cm).Before the implantation of the cancellous bones,the scar fibrous tissues within the nonunion were removed completely by endoscopy,and then autologous red marrow obtained from the iliac crest was injected.ResultsAll the patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months(mean,25 months).The surgical wounds healed primarily in all of the cases without injuries to the blood vessels and nerves.Bony union was achieved within 4 to 9 months(mean,5.1 months) in 23 of the patients,the other 2 failed because of breaking and loosing of internal fixators.No patient developed re-nonunion and infection.ConclusionsImplantation of homologous cancellous and autologous red marrow under endoscope is effective for traumatic bone nonunion or bone defect with a low rate of complication and high rate of bony union.Since no need to harvest the ilium bone,the method is minimally invasive for the patients.