Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term outcomes for the biologic treatment of bone marrow edema (BME) of the knee using bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and injectable demineralized bone matrix (iDBM). METHODS: We performed a review of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent treatment for bone marrow lesions (BMLs) of the knee using BMAC and iDBM (IntraOsseous BioPlasty; Arthrex, Naples, FL) between May 2017 and December 2018. Inclusion criteria included patients aged 18 to 65 years with the presence of BME on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the subchondral weightbearing region of the tibia or femoral condyle, with pain corresponding to the same compartment. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), pain visual analog scale (VAS), and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We evaluated 20 patients who were treated at a single academic medical institution over a mean 14.5-month follow-up (median, 14 months; range, 6-25 months). The average patient age was 51.7 years (range 38-62 years). Compared with preoperative values, the visual analog scale decreased from 7.0 to 1.3 (P = .008). The mean International Knee Documentation Committee scores improved from 29.2 to 66.1 (P = .063). Both the Physical and Mental Component Scores of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey also showed improvement (Physical Component Score, P = .438; Mental Component Score, P = .563). Based on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, 75% (3 of 4) of the BMLs demonstrated complete healing. The survival rate was 93% at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Biologic treatment of BME of the knee using BMAC and iDBM is an effective adjunct to arthroscopy that provides short-term pain relief for BMLs associated with degenerative conditions of the knee. This procedure is associated with clinically significant improvements in knee pain and function at a short-term follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.