Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Injections

Advanced Orthobiologic Treatment for Select Orthopedic Conditions

Dr. Melanie Worley performing a bone marrow aspiration for bone marrow concentrate (BMC) therapy using sterile technique.

What is BMAC?

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) is an advanced orthobiologic treatment that utilizes concentrated cells, growth factors, and other bioactive signaling molecules obtained from your own bone marrow to support the body's natural healing response.

At Detroit Biologics, every BMC procedure is personally performed by Dr. Melanie Worley using precision ultrasound and/or fluoroscopic guidance. Treatment recommendations are individualized based on your diagnosis, imaging findings, activity level, goals, and the latest available evidence.

Anatomical illustration of the pelvis highlighting the iliac crest, the most common site for bone marrow aspiration used in BMC procedures.

Potential Benefits
of BMAC Include:

  • Supports Natural Healing: Utilizes concentrated biologically active cells, growth factors, and signaling proteins from your own bone marrow to support the body's natural healing response.

  • May Reduce Pain & Improve Function: May help decrease pain and improve function in select orthopedic conditions, including certain cases of osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, and ligament injuries.

  • Advanced Orthobiologic Treatment: May be considered for patients with more advanced orthopedic conditions or when a more robust biologic treatment is appropriate.

  • May Help Delay Joint Replacement: For appropriately selected patients with knee osteoarthritis, BMC may provide a non-surgical treatment option that helps improve pain and function while delaying the need for joint replacement surgery. It is not a substitute for surgery in every patient.

  • Less Downtime Than Surgery: Provides a minimally invasive treatment option that may offer a shorter recovery and less downtime than joint replacement surgery for appropriate candidates.

Why Technique Matters

Bone Marrow Harvest

Bone marrow is typically aspirated from the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS)—the back portion of the pelvic bone. The PSIS is widely recognized as a preferred harvest site because it provides excellent access to bone marrow while allowing the procedure to be performed safely and comfortably under image guidance.

Experience Makes a Difference

Not all bone marrow aspirations are performed the same way.

Research suggests that factors such as aspiration technique, needle repositioning, aspiration volume, and minimizing dilution with peripheral blood can influence the cellular composition of the final Bone Marrow Concentrate. Because of this, physician experience and meticulous technique play an important role in maximizing the quality of the biologic product.

At Detroit Biologics, every Bone Marrow Concentrate procedure is performed by Dr. Melanie Worley using advanced aspiration techniques, careful processing protocols, and precision image guidance to optimize treatment delivery while prioritizing patient safety and comfort.

Evidence-Informed Care

Bone Marrow Concentrate continues to be one of the most actively studied orthobiologic treatments in orthopedic medicine. Dr. Philippe Hernigou and colleagues have published decades of research evaluating Bone Marrow Concentrate across a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including knee osteoarthritis, shoulder pathology, hip disorders, osteonecrosis, and other orthopedic applications.

Their long-term studies have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in appropriately selected patients, including improved pain and function and delayed progression to knee replacement in many individuals with knee osteoarthritis. While BMC is not appropriate for every patient or every condition, this growing body of evidence supports its role as a non-surgical treatment option for carefully selected patients.

At Detroit Biologics, treatment recommendations are individualized based on your diagnosis, imaging findings, activity level, and goals. Our philosophy is simple: recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for you—whether that is Bone Marrow Concentrate, PRP, physical therapy, surgery, or another evidence-informed option.