Hip OA (I–III)
Early to moderate hip osteoarthritis with partial joint-space preservation and no subchondral collapse.
- Early to moderate OA, strongest
- Weight-bearing imaging read
- Femoral head integrity confirmed
Stem cell therapy for hip pain, before a replacement.
Hip osteoarthritis and labral degeneration frequently respond to precision-delivered MSC therapy when caught before end-stage joint-space collapse. Whether your case qualifies is a physician decision made against your imaging.
Which hips are candidates for stem cell therapy?
A well-evaluated hip has options. The hip is deep, well-vascularized, and forgiving of precision-delivered biologics when structure is still largely intact. When the femoral head has collapsed or joint space is fully obliterated, it isn't.
Patients who do best typically arrive with moderate radiographic OA, a labral tear, or post-impingement degeneration. Conservative care has plateaued; injections haven't held. An arthritic hip rarely sits on its own: the surrounding stabilizers, tendons, and capsule are usually strained too, and we treat the whole joint, not only the cartilage.
We evaluate imaging carefully before recommending anything. Avascular necrosis and advanced bone collapse are not strong MSC cases, and we'll say so directly. End-stage joint-space loss is considered case by case, after a frank forecast.
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Strong fit
Moderate hip OA with preserved joint space
Moderate wear. Cartilage loss without full collapse.
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Also a fit
Labral degeneration, post-FAI drift
Labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement sequelae, post-surgical hips that never settled.
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Not a fit
Avascular necrosis with collapse
Avascular necrosis with collapse and severe dysplasia generally need surgical reconstruction; we'll recommend a surgeon we trust. End-stage OA with bone-on-bone contact is case-by-case: expected response is lower, but if you want to delay a hip replacement, we'll still consider treating you after a frank conversation about what to expect.
Hip conditions the physician team evaluates.
Labral degeneration
Degenerative labral tears and post-repair hips that remain symptomatic despite conservative care.
- Degenerative tears
- Post-arthroscopy residuals
- Low-grade cartilage wear
FAI & early degeneration
Femoroacetabular impingement sequelae and accelerated drift after prior hip events.
- CAM / Pincer pathology
- Early cartilage wear
- Refractory groin pain
How is a hip injection done at Celva?
The hip is deep. It requires image guidance. Every hip injection at Celva is done under fluoroscopy with contrast confirmation before cells are released.
Joint cases like yours use bone-marrow and umbilical-cord MSCs, often in combination and sometimes with chondrocytes for cartilage support. The exact recipe, which cells, what doses, which routes, is decided by Celva's physician team after reviewing your imaging. Matched to your case, not pulled off a shelf. Why we use multiple cell types →
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Procedure runs under local anesthetic, with twilight sedation available if you want it. A comfortable, still patient lets the physician place the cells precisely, where pain or guarding could get in the way. Most patients are home the same day.
We treat the whole hip, not just the joint surface. Alongside the intra-articular dose, we address the gluteal tendons and stabilizers around the hip that drive much of the pain. The first days usually bring soreness rather than instant relief; that's the healing response at work, and the signaling builds over weeks.
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Imaging review
MRI and X-ray with weight-bearing films. Read by the physician team.
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Dose & route
Intra-articular dose and the same-day systemic IV, set against your imaging.
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Fluoroscopic injection
Contrast confirms capsular position before release. Image-guided placement, non-negotiable for the hip.
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Systemic IV
A second MSC dose via IV in the infusion suite. The IV and the injection are designed to work together.
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Check-ins, then once a year
Your patient coordinator or aftercare specialist follows up for good, not just once: a pain-and-safety call at 1 week, then calls at 1, 3 and 6 months, then once a year, by phone or video. A physician joins when needed. Structured, not reactive.
How long does a treated hip take to respond?
- ~ 30 days
Soft tissue settles
Post-injection soreness resolves. Baseline pain often unchanged.
- ~ 90 days
Function starts to return
Hip function begins improving. Stairs, socks, side-sleeping, functional markers shift first.
- ~ 180 days
The 6-month review
A review of what has changed and what has not. Whether a second treatment makes sense is decided at your follow-up reviews.
- Through year 1
Still building
Improvement can keep building through the first year, with attention to loading and activity.
The hip's deep position and weight-bearing load mean earlier wins are uncommon. Stability of load-bearing activity is the signal to watch at 90 days.
Hip-specific questions.
Can MSC therapy delay a hip replacement?
For patients with moderate OA and preserved joint space, it is a legitimate path to evaluate first. For AVN with collapse, replacement usually remains the right answer. End-stage OA is considered case by case, after a frank forecast. The evaluation decides.
Why fluoroscopic guidance and not ultrasound?
The hip joint is deep; capsular position must be verified with radio-opaque contrast before cells are released. Fluoroscopy is the standard of care for intra-articular hip injection.
How long before I can return to activity?
Plan on staying off the hip with very limited activity for the first 7 to 10 days while the joint is protected. Physical therapy is recommended after that. Loading and strengthening inside physical therapy are fine; outside it, avoid loading the hip for 4 to 6 weeks. Running or high-impact activity generally waits until weeks 8 to 12.
Does insurance cover this?
No. MSC therapy is not FDA-approved for joint disease in the United States and is not a covered benefit. You receive a written, itemized quote after the physician team reviews your case.
Before you accept a hip replacement, start with a real read.
Your first call is with a Celva patient coordinator. Celva's physician team then reads your imaging and tells you plainly whether MSC therapy fits your case. If it doesn't, we'll say so.