Nonsurgical Hip AVN Treatment: A 5 Year Update

Medical illustration showing the stages of avascular necrosis

Rumruay/Shutterstock

Is a nonsurgical hip AVN treatment possible? Back in the spring of 2009, we treated a woman who had hip AVN – a disease where the hip bone slowly dies off and the hip joint collapses, eventually becoming a square peg in a round hole. When a grade 2 lesion is diagnosed, it’s almost certain that the patient will need a hip replacement within a year or two.

The patient had noted AVN several years before because she had hip pain while pregnant. She was told she needed a hip replacement, but being young, she didn’t want to contemplate having a piece of metal and ceramic in her body and also didn’t want the multiple surgeries she would need throughout her life. So she opted for another option and tried the Regenexx-SD and  -C procedures. We placed the stem cells into her joint and into her bone AVN lesion with exacting x-ray guidance. She sent this e-mail this week:

“I just filled out the 5-year questionnaire on my hip procedure.  Could you please pass on to Dr. Centeno and Dr. Schultz my gratitude?  I feel very blessed to still have my hip and to be able to still horseback ride, play with my son, mountain bike, etc.  My doctor says I’m the only patient she’s ever known with Stage 2 AVN that didn’t end up with a broken hip or a hip replacement.  I now say I had AVN–and now I just have arthritis.

Also, the positive energy of the Centeno-Schultz clinic really helped me take a positive approach to my recovery;  I remember asking Dr. Schultz as I went into surgery if he thought it could work (I was discouraged after consulting with various orthopedists as to the likely success of a core decompression).  His response was “Of course it’s going to work!”–Although I knew nothing with bodies is a sure bet, I still really appreciated his energy.”

While the patient still manages joint pain and inflammation, she’s remained active and is living her life with AVN based on determination and a little help from her own stem cells!

RegenexxCayman is an independently owned and operated medical services provider operating exclusively in the Cayman Islands and is not part of or affiliated with the Centeno-Schultz Clinic or any U.S. Regenexx Network provider. The Regenexx-C procedure licensed by RegenexxCayman is not approved by the U.S. FDA for use in the United States.

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Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications. View Profile

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NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.

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