Threads Physio

Stem Cell Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis | Dr. Manu Bora | Avoid Knee Replacement
Stem Cell Therapy
Regenerative Orthopaedics · Knee OA

Avoid Knee Replacement
with a Single
Stem Cell Injection

Your own bone marrow stem cells, precisely injected into the damaged subchondral bone beneath your cartilage — giving you 10–15 years of pain relief without surgery.

Same-day procedure
Your own cells — no donor risk
Evidence-based · PubMed published
Published Clinical Results
Hernigou et al. — 15-Year Follow-Up
>85%
Avoided Knee Replacement At 15 years post-injection in patients with advanced knee OA
10–15
Years of Pain Relief From a single bone marrow stem cell procedure
80%+
Subchondral Bone Regeneration MRI-confirmed improvement in bone marrow lesions
Clinical Walkthrough · 2024
Ninety seconds of our
regenerative procedure.
Can Stem Cell Treatment Help Your Knee?

What Stem Cell Treatment
Actually Does

Unlike temporary symptom relief, stem cell therapy works at the cellular level.

  • Reduce pain and improve function
  • Support joint health and structure
  • Aim to delay or avoid knee replacement

Why "Just Get a Knee Replacement"
Is Not Your Only Option

Millions of knee OA patients are told to wait for the pain to become unbearable before undergoing a major surgery. There is a better path.

01

Knee Replacement Is Permanent & Irreversible

Once your natural knee is replaced, there is no going back. A prosthetic joint lasts 15–20 years — and revision surgery is far more complex.

02

Long Recovery & Major Surgery Risk

TKR requires general or spinal anaesthesia, 3–5 days in hospital, and 3–6 months of physiotherapy. Complications include clots, infection, and stiffness.

03

Painkillers Only Mask the Problem

NSAIDs, steroid injections, and hyaluronic acid provide temporary relief but do nothing to address the underlying bone and cartilage damage.

04

Bone-on-Bone Doesn't Mean Surgery Is Inevitable

Even advanced osteoarthritis with subchondral bone lesions can be treated with targeted stem cell therapy — regenerating the damaged tissue from within.

How Stem Cell Injection
Works in One Day

No general anaesthesia. No hospitalisation. Your own cells harvested, concentrated, and precisely injected — all in a single session.

01
🩸

Bone Marrow & Adipose Harvest

A small sample of bone marrow is withdrawn from your iliac crest (pelvis) under local anaesthesia. Takes 20–30 minutes. Minimal discomfort. Adipose tissue (fat) may also be harvested for additional stem cells.

BMAC + Adipocyte
02
🔬

Concentration & Activation

Your bone marrow is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors. Adipocyte-derived stem cells may also be harvested from fat tissue.

BMAC / Adipocyte
03
🎯

Targeted Intraosseous Injection

Using fluoroscopy guidance, stem cells are injected into the subchondral bone beneath cartilage damage — not just into the joint fluid. This is the Hernigou technique.

Subchondral Target
04
🏠

Home the Same Day

No overnight stay. Walk with assistance immediately. Begin gentle movement within days. Pain relief begins over 4–8 weeks as regeneration takes hold.

Day Procedure

Where Are Your
Stem Cells Sourced?

Stem cell treatments typically draw cells from two sources:

  • Adipose Tissue (Fat): Harvested from abdominal fat, rich in growth factors
  • Bone Marrow: Harvested from the iliac crest (pelvis), strongest evidence for bone regeneration

Some treatment protocols combine both sources. The prepared cell-based product is then delivered into the affected knee.

Stem cell sources: Adipose tissue and bone marrow

10 Years of Knee Pain.
Gone with One Injection.

Watch this patient describe how a single bone marrow stem cell injection — the same procedure Dr. Bora performs — ended over a decade of chronic knee pain. No surgery. No hospitalisation. Just her own cells doing the work.

"I had been living with this pain for 10 years. After one injection, I could finally walk without pain."

Patient Testimonial · Post BMAC Procedure
Patient Testimonial — BMAC Stem Cell Procedure

Backed by
Published Science

This is not experimental. Dr. Hernigou's randomised controlled trials — published in International Orthopaedics — show consistent 15-year results across hundreds of patients.

Int Orthop · 2020 · PMID 32322943

Bone Marrow MSC Injection vs Contralateral Arthroplasty — 15-Year Follow-Up

Prospective randomised study. Patients who received BMAC into subchondral bone significantly outperformed those who received knee replacement in the contralateral knee at 15 years. Over 85% avoided TKR in the treated knee.

View on PubMed →
Int Orthop · 2020 · PMID 32617651

Subchondral vs Intra-articular BMAC: Which Better Postpones Arthroplasty?

Randomised study comparing intraosseous (subchondral) vs intra-articular injection. Subchondral injection was significantly superior at 15 years — confirming that targeting the bone beneath the cartilage is the critical difference.

View on PubMed →
🦴

Subchondral Bone Regeneration

MRI-confirmed regeneration of subchondral bone marrow lesions — the root cause of "bone on bone" pain — not just symptom masking.

🧬

Your Own Cells — Zero Rejection Risk

Autologous stem cells (from your own body) carry no risk of immune rejection, disease transmission, or ethical concerns.

📊

Superior to PRP & Hyaluronic Acid

BMAC demonstrated superior long-term outcomes versus both PRP and hyaluronic acid injections at 12-month and 15-yea@media (max-width: 768px)r follow-ups.

Patients Preferred Stem Cell Knee

In the head-to-head study, the majority of patients who had one knee replaced and one treated with BMAC preferred the stem cell-treated knee at 15 years.

Bone vs Joint Injection
Which Is Better?

Studies comparing subchondral bone and intra-articular injection approaches show better long-term outcomes with bone-targeted treatment.

Bone vs Joint Injection: 80% vs 30% success rates

Important: 80% vs 30% should not be treated as a universal success rate — outcomes still depend heavily on patient selection, disease severity, cell source, and treatment technique.

Stem Cell Injection
vs All Other Options

BMAC Stem Cell Injection Knee Replacement (TKR) PRP / Hyaluronic Acid
Duration of Relief10–15+ years15–20 years (prosthetic life)6–12 months
Major Surgery✗ No✓ Yes — general anaesthesia✗ No
HospitalisationDay procedure3–5 daysDay procedure
Uses Your Own Cells✓ Yes✗ No — implantPartial (PRP only)
Bone Regeneration✓ MRI confirmed✗ No✗ No
Reversible✓ Yes✗ No — permanent✓ Yes
Recovery TimeDays to weeks3–6 monthsDays
Evidence (RCT)✓ 15-year RCT published✓ Well-establishedLimited long-term data

Why Targeting
the Bone Matters

Knee OA isn't just cartilage damage. The problem lives beneath the surface.

  • Bone Marrow Lesions: Edema and dead bone areas trigger pain
  • Microfractures: Tiny breaks in bone architecture destabilize the joint
  • Inflammation: Chronic signals worsen cartilage degeneration

This is why joint-only injections fail: they don't address the bone beneath. Subchondral targeting regenerates the foundation.

Subchondral bone damage: bone marrow lesions, microfractures, inflammation

The red areas show bone damage that causes "bone-on-bone" pain

How stem cells work in the joint: inflammation modulation, cartilage support

How Injected Cells
Work Inside

What Your Stem Cells Do:

  • Modulate Inflammation — Reduce joint swelling & pain signals
  • Support Joint Environment — Create conditions for healing
  • Pain & Function Improvement — Relief in 4–8 weeks
  • Cartilage Health Support — Growth factors aid tissue

⚠️ Important: This is NOT guaranteed new cartilage. Results depend on patient selection and disease severity.

Are You a
Good Candidate?

Not every knee OA patient qualifies. Send Dr. Bora your MRI report for a personalised assessment within 24 hours.

✓ Ideal Candidates

  • Knee osteoarthritis Grade 2, 3, or early Grade 4
  • Significant subchondral bone marrow lesions on MRI
  • "Bone on bone" with visible edema / bone bruising
  • Pain not adequately controlled by medications
  • Wanting to avoid or delay knee replacement
  • Age 45–80 with adequate general health
  • Failed PRP or hyaluronic acid injections
  • Active individuals who want to return to walking, travel, golf

✗ May Not Be Suitable

  • Severe Grade 4 OA with complete joint collapse
  • Active infection in or around the knee
  • Severe valgus or varus deformity (may need correction first)
  • Active autoimmune conditions on immunosuppressants
  • Haematological malignancy or blood disorders
  • Morbid obesity (BMI >40) — increases procedure risk

Not sure? Send your MRI. Dr. Bora will assess and be honest about whether you qualify.

Dr. Manu Bora

Dr. Manu Bora
MS Orthopaedics

15+
Years Experience
3000+
Joint Procedures
2
Clinic Cities
Orthopaedic Surgeon · Sports Medicine Specialist
Arthroscopy · Joint Preservation · Regenerative Orthopaedics
ACL Reconstruction — QuadPro, Internal Brace, LET
Founder — Orthosport Clinics · ThreadsPhysio · ArthroscopyCollege
Faculty — National & International Arthroscopy Courses

I offer bone marrow and adipocyte-derived stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis based on the most rigorous published evidence in regenerative orthopaedics. If you have received advice to undergo knee replacement surgery, I encourage you to first explore whether your knee can be preserved. WhatsApp me your MRI — I will personally review it and give you an honest opinion within 24 hours.

📍Gurgaon — F, 10/4, Golf Course Rd, DLF Phase 1, Sector 27, Gurugram, Haryana 122001
📍Mumbai — Clinic available (contact for address)
📱+91 93546 34022 — WhatsApp MRI for free opinion
Response within 24 hours. Share your number and Dr. Bora's team will contact you.

Real Patients.
Real Results.

These are not cherry-picked outcomes. Watch patients describe what changed after a single stem cell injection — in their own words.

>85%
Avoided replacement
10–15 yrs
Pain relief duration
1 Day
Procedure time
3000+
Procedures by Dr. Bora
Patient Testimonial
Life After Stem Cell Injection
A patient shares their experience following BMAC treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
Patient Testimonial
From Chronic Pain to Walking Freely
Years of knee pain resolved after a single bone marrow stem cell procedure.

Transparent
Pricing

One procedure. One price. No hidden costs. Compared to knee replacement — which costs ₹3–7 lakh plus months of rehab — this is exceptional value.

Stem Cell Injection Procedure
₹2 Lakh
All-inclusive · Per knee
  • Pre-procedure MRI review & consultation with Dr. Bora
  • Bone marrow harvest from iliac crest under local anaesthesia
  • BMAC concentration & preparation (adipocyte cells if applicable)
  • Fluoroscopy-guided intraosseous subchondral injection
  • Post-procedure recovery & rehabilitation guidance
  • ThreadsPhysio rehabilitation protocol
  • 1-month follow-up consultation
Book via WhatsApp

Cost valid for Gurgaon & Mumbai clinics. Prices subject to review based on clinical complexity. EMI options may be available — enquire via WhatsApp.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Is this procedure safe? Are stem cells my own? +

Yes. We use autologous stem cells — harvested from your own bone marrow and fat tissue. There is zero risk of immune rejection or disease transmission. The procedure has been performed and studied since the 1990s by Dr. Hernigou and published in peer-reviewed journals. Serious complications are extremely rare.

How long will the pain relief last? +

Published randomised controlled trial data from Dr. Hernigou shows that over 85% of patients avoided knee replacement for a mean of 15 years after a single injection. Individual results vary based on age, severity, and lifestyle. Most patients experience meaningful pain relief beginning at 4–8 weeks, with continued improvement over 6 months as regeneration progresses.

What is the difference between BMAC and adipocyte stem cells? +

BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) harvests mesenchymal stem cells from the pelvis (iliac crest) — these have the strongest published evidence for subchondral bone regeneration. Adipocyte-derived stem cells come from fat tissue (usually abdominal fat) and are rich in regenerative growth factors. Dr. Bora may use either or both based on your clinical picture and MRI findings.

I have been told I need a knee replacement. Is it too late for this? +

Not necessarily. Even Grade 3–4 OA with subchondral bone lesions may qualify, especially if you have significant bone marrow edema on MRI. The best way to know is to share your MRI with Dr. Bora directly via WhatsApp. He will give you a frank assessment of whether stem cell therapy is appropriate for your case.

How soon can I walk and return to normal activities? +

Most patients walk with assistance on the same day. Light activities resume within 1–2 weeks. A structured physiotherapy programme (via ThreadsPhysio) begins at 2 weeks. Full pain relief typically develops over 4–12 weeks as the regenerative process matures. Avoid high-impact activities for 6 weeks post-procedure.

Can I have this done if I have diabetes or high blood pressure? +

Controlled diabetes and hypertension are generally not contraindications. Dr. Bora will review your full medical history and medications before proceeding. Well-controlled systemic conditions do not typically affect the outcome of the procedure.

Is this available for both knees at the same time? +

Yes. Bilateral knee injections can often be performed in the same session — one bone marrow harvest can provide enough concentrate for both knees. This reduces total cost and recovery time compared to two separate procedures. Discuss this with Dr. Bora at your consultation.

Don't Agree to Knee Replacement
Before Getting a Second Opinion

WhatsApp your MRI report to Dr. Manu Bora. You'll receive a personal reply within 24 hours — completely free.

Share your MRI + contact number. Dr. Bora's team will call you back.

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