Taliaferro J, Shapiro SA, Montero DP, Shi GG, Wilke BK. Cash-Based Stem-Cell Clinics: The Modern Day Snake Oil Salesman? A Report of Two Cases of Patients Harmed by Intra-articular Stem Cell Injections.
JBJS Case Connect 2019;
9:e0363. [PMID:
31815806 DOI:
10.2106/jbjs.cc.19.00363]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
CASE
The use of biologics is rapidly expanding. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of cash-based "stem cell"/regenerative medicine clinics in the United States. These clinics provide cash-based services touting stem cell injections to cure a myriad of conditions. Largely, these clinics are unregulated and using injections in a non-Food and Drug Administration-approved manner. We report on 2 patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of septic arthritis following stem cell injections by cash-based local stem cell clinics. Case 1 involved a patient who developed septic arthritis following an injection of umbilical cord blood-derived cellular products (Genentech) and required an antibiotic spacer followed by a total hip arthroplasty. Case 2 involved a patient who developed a likely immune-mediated reaction following an injection of morselized human placental allograft tissue by a local chiropractic office at a cost of approximately $8,000.
CONCLUSIONS
We present these cases to bring increased awareness to the issue and call for increased regulation of this practice.
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