This video features a 2-month post-procedure check-in shared by Dr. Don Buford at Texas Orthobiologics, focusing on a patient utilizing advanced orthobiologics to delay or avoid total joint replacement surgery.
Key Highlights:
- The Condition: The patient presented with severe, advanced arthritis in both knees. Clinically, her joints were classified as stage three and four, with her medial (inner) compartments sitting at a Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 4 (severe, bone-on-bone) and her lateral (outer) compartments at a Grade 3.
- The Treatment: To treat these advanced symptoms, Dr. Buford performed a comprehensive, office-based Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) "stem cell" procedure. Under precise ultrasound guidance, the cells were delivered using a dual-target approach: intra-articularly (inside the joint space) and intraosseously (directly into the bone tissue).
- Results at 2 Months:
- Functional Mobility: The patient demonstrates her improved mobility on camera. Before the procedure, she couldn't bend straight down to pick something up without awkwardly turning her leg outward to avoid intense pain. At two months, she can bend straight down easily and painlessly.
- Daily Activities: She reports that she can now walk up and down stairs without experiencing pain. While she occasionally feels a minor sensation due to the advanced stage of her arthritis, it happens "hardly ever."
- Overall Improvement: The patient estimates she is already at least 60% better overall.
- Looking Forward: Dr. Buford emphasizes that a 60% improvement at just two months is an excellent sign. Because the cellular healing response typically ramps up through the three-to-four-month mark, her knee function and pain relief are expected to continue improving from here.
Questions about this treatment
- What condition is featured in this patient success story?
- The patient had severe, advanced arthritis in both knees. Her medial compartments were classified as Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 4, while the lateral compartments were Grade 3.
- What treatment did the patient receive for knee arthritis?
- The patient underwent an office-based Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) procedure performed under ultrasound guidance. The treatment used both intra-articular injections into the joint space and intraosseous injections into the bone.
- How was the patient doing two months after the stem cell injection?
- At two months after treatment, the patient reported substantial improvement. She could bend straight down without the severe pain she experienced before treatment and could walk up and down stairs without pain.
- How much improvement did the patient report?
- The patient estimated that she was already at least 60% better overall two months after the procedure.
- Can BMAC treatment help delay or avoid knee replacement?
- BMAC may be an option for selected patients with knee arthritis who are considering alternatives to joint replacement. Individual results vary, and treatment suitability depends on the patient's diagnosis, severity of arthritis, symptoms, and clinical evaluation.
- Who provides BMAC treatment at Texas Orthobiologics?
- BMAC and regenerative medicine treatments are provided by Don Buford, MD and the Texas Orthobiologics team in Dallas, Texas.
Every patient is different, and a video is not a promise of the same result. If you want to know whether an orthobiologic or surgical option fits your own injury, that starts with an exam and imaging — not a video.
