There are techniques where a surgeon can place a catheter into the ilium (pelvis bone) in the operating room and suck out some cells. There are stem cells located here and these can be separated by a type of centrifuge filter in the operating room to provide a higher concentration of your own stem cells. These can be added to the fusion material used to try and get a higher fusion rate.
There might be a higher chance of fusion with these cells but the studies are still out and no definitive proof is available to confirm or deny that this technique works.
Stem cells need a protein signal to change into the cell line that is needed. This protein signal is BMP (bone morphogenic protein) which induces the cell (or “morphs” the cell) into a bone cell.
At this point, I use BMP for all lumbar fusions. I don’t use stem cells for fusion as my fusion rate with BMP is so high (99%).
Vitoss is bone graft substitute like many others. It is a ceramic material that has the same porosity as bone. When placed into a defect where the surgeon wants bone to grow, it creates a matrix (a home-like environment) that invites bone cells to grow into. It is not the greatest bone graft substance (the two best are BMP and iliac crest bone graft) but works reasonably well to help allow bone to grow.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
