Costs of Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis 2023

The cost of stem cell therapy for knees in US vary from $1,500 to $15,000. Stem cell therapy cost for knees may differ from stem cell therapy cost for other chronic and complicated conditions. 

In the United States, treatment protocols vary depending on the clinic and the treating physician.

• A one-time treatment that utilizes blood drawn from a patient can cost as little as $1,500.
• In contrast, protocols that utilize a bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue extraction can run as much as $15,000.

Nicolas Santiago Piuzzi, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues conducted a prospective cross-sectional study (2018) and queried 273 US centers that offered direct-to-consumer stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal conditions. The centers were contacted using a simulated 57-year-old male patient with knee osteoarthritis.

The researchers found that the mean cost of therapy was $5156 (range, $1150 to $12,000) for the 65 centers that provided pricing information for a same-day stem cell unilateral knee injection. Fourteen and 10 of the centers charged less than $3000 and more than $8000 per injection. The mean marketed clinical efficacy was 82.2% (range, 55% to 100%) for the 36 centers that provided information on clinical efficacy. Ten of the 36 clinics claimed efficacy of 90% to 100%; 15 claimed efficacy of 80% to 90%, 10 claimed efficacy of 70 % to 80%, and one claimed clinical efficacy of 55% or greater.

Patients must do their research and ask as many questions as they can before financially committing to stem cell based treatment. Make sure you are getting stem cells and not PRP (platelet rich plasma). The cost of platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) is usually much lower. PRP can be used separately or in conjunction with stem cell therapy. The cost of PRP for knee is typically $500-700, but may be as high as $2,000 at some locations.

For allogeneic UC-MSC (Umbilical cord - Mesenchymal Stem Cells), a 25-million cell dose may be the most effective among the doses tested for pain reduction (Arthritis Res Ther. 2016). That said, please discuss the optimal treatment with your knee specialist as there might be other factors that might need to be personalised to your situation.

The stages of osteoarthritis, as demonstrated in the knee joint

Stem cell therapy for the knees is a relatively new treatment, and more research is needed to fully understand its potential and limitations. Some studies have shown that stem cell therapy may be effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee injuries or conditions such as osteoarthritis. 

If you are considering stem cell therapy for a knee injury or condition, it is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks with a trusted qualified healthcare provider. They can help you make an informed decision about whether stem cell therapy is right for you.