Isolation and cultivation of mesenchymal stem cells from iliac crest bone marrow for further cartilage defect management.

Aim: to validate isolation and cultivation methods of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from iliac crest, and to compare biological characteristics of BM-MSCs from different age groups for preparation of autologous stem cell therapy in cartilage defect.

Methods: patients undergoing spinal surgery were selected and grouped according to age. Iliac crest bone marrow from the patients was aspirated.