Unlocking the Power of BMAC: Could This Cutting-Edge Therapy Speed Up Your Injury Recovery?

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC, is a regenerative treatment that can potentially encourage the body’s natural healing process by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and bone tissue. 

BMAC has been shown to be effective in promoting healing of different types of orthopedic injuries, including ankle injuries. 

It has also been found to:

• Reduce inflammation

• Improve range of motion

• Decrease pain and discomfort

Is it necessary?

While this procedure could improve healing speed, it is not necessary to your recovery. A healthy body should be capable of healing on its own. This is especially important to know as BMAC is a less common treatment and not yet covered by health insurance plans, which could be costly to patients.

How does it work?

It’s usually done by an orthopedic surgeon, who takes an X-ray to confirm the injury and determine if BMAC would be beneficial.

The procedure begins with the extraction of small amounts of bone marrow from a patient’s hip bone, which is then processed to concentrate the growth factors that produce blood cells. These growth factors are then injected into the injured area.

Before treatment, your doctor will have you:

• Stop taking corticosteroids (like Prednisone) 2-3 weeks prior 

• Stop taking NSAIDS (like Advil) 2 weeks prior

• Stop taking anticoagulants (like Xarelto, Eliquis and Pradaxa, etc.) 5 days prior 

After the treatment, there may be pain and soreness for several days. Your doctor will likely recommend that you ice the area, and take Tylenol if needed.

Post-treatment, your doctor will also likely recommend:

• No NSAIDS for 12 weeks

• No anticoagulants for 24 hours

• Limiting movement of the ankle area for a few days

• No lifting or straining yourself for a week

Note

Although this procedure has an excellent safety record, more research and testing is needed to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of BMAC.

As always, talk to your care team to determine if BMAC is an appropriate treatment option for you.