A novel technique developed by scientists at the School of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK, if proved successful, could very soon reform the conventional hip replacement procedures.

Presently grafting technique is used in which surgeons introduce a donor bone to the damaged area to extend support for the new hip stem.

However, as per the new innovative method, a patient’s own stem cells would be utilized to repair damaged bones, which are expected to encourage increased re-growth and repair.

Adult stem cells from the bone marrow in combination with polymer scaffolds — support structures — will be used by the technique to discern the success of the hip replacement, in a two-year collaborative study by the Universities of Southampton and Nottingham,

“Surgeons currently use bone from donors during bone grafting, so introducing a patient’s own stem cells to create a living cell or material composite would be a totally new approach”, said Professor Richard Oreffo, an expert in musculoskeletal science at the University of Southampton.

The beginnings of the research clearly highlights that the polymers can help in the bone development as it creates a living cell material, which would then assist with the attachment of the hip implant.