Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells for chronic wounds of the lower extremity: a retrospective study

Recent evidence suggests that stem cells derived from bone marrow have the potential to treat many disorders given their plasticity and ability to differentiate into various types of tissues, including skin cells. Stem cells are known to participate in cell migration and proliferation, contributing to the repair and regeneration of injured tissue, as observed in chronic wounds. This retrospective review of patients treated with autologous bone marrow aspirate (BMA) was performed to determine whether the treatment will help heal lower extremity ulcers by expediting wound closure and reducing the risk of lower limb amputation. The applied technique also exemplifies a simple, safe, and effective method of collecting the aspirate and applying it to the wound directly. Eight patients, 32- to 96-years-old, underwent this procedure between January 2010-March 2010. The subjects had previously undergone at least 1 year of conventional wound care treatment without any signs of healing. Wounds were evaluated and measured at each visit. Three subjects showed a decrease in wound size, and three subjects utilized alternative therapies, including biologic dressings or grafts at week 6, 11, and 16 following surgery since no significant improvement was noted. Although topically applied bone marrow derived stem cells may lead to dermal rebuilding and aid in healing, more research is needed to support their use in chronic wounds.