Effect of a Rehabilitation Program After Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Transplantation for Advanced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: To assess the status of 10 patients with advanced osteonecrosis of the femoral head who underwent mesenchymal stromal cell transplants and a 12-week rehabilitation program 10 years earlier.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University clinical research laboratory.

Participants: Patients (N=10) who had undergone mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation and rehabilitation for a single hip osteonecrosis of the femoral head 10 years prior to the current study were recruited by telephone. The average age was 31.7 years and all participants were men; radiographic stages were 3A in 6 patients and 3B in 4 patients before treatment.

Intervention: A 12-week rehabilitation program with follow-up once every 1 to 2 years was performed after mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation.

Main Outcome Measures: Radiographic analysis, clinical score, timed Up and Go test, hip function (range of motion, muscle strength), and Short Form-36 scores were assessed before treatment and 1 and 10 years after treatment.

Results: Upon imaging, 5 hips were found to be stable (stable group) and 5 had progressed (progressed group); 2 of the latter group required a total hip arthroplasty. The pretreatment radiographic stage of the progressed group was more advanced than that of the stable group. Body mass index was higher in the progressed group than in the stable group. Hip function and clinical score at 1 and 10 years after treatment improved in the hips of 8 patients without total hip arthroplasty. There were no severe adverse events during the rehabilitation.

Conclusions: The 12-week rehabilitation program and annual follow-up after mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation for osteonecrosis of the femoral head was associated with pain reduction, maintaining hip muscle strength, widening range of motion, and improving quality of life. The level and timing of weight-bearing and social activity should be planned according to the individual's lifestyle and body composition.