Suffering from chronic hip pain and reduced range of motion, Curry was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, where the ball of the hip joint is abnormally shaped, causing uneven wear and tear in the joint resulting in cartilage and bone damage.[2][3]
In Curry’s case, there was what was defined as an arthritic change within the hip[4] – labrum and cartilage tears, as well as abnormal bone growth. This was corrected in a six-hour surgery, which reshaped the ball of his hip and repaired the labrum and cartilage via a stem cell transplant.[2]
To fix the tears in Curry’s cartilage, leading hip surgeon Damian Griffin placed a synthetic cartilage graft in the joint and applied stem cells taken from Curry’s bone marrow to it to grow a new surface within the joint.[5] The procedure is performed arthroscopically (keyhole surgery), and it has a much shorter recovery time and carries less risk than surgeries involving metal implants, such as a hip resurfacing, where metal surfaces are used to cover the joint,[6] or a complete hip replacement.[7]
Now, Curry is undergoing another stem cell therapy in a bid to make it to the 2027 Rugby World Cup without needing more surgery.[1] There are fewer details available about this therapy, but it has been stated to be a stem cell injection in his hip to help bone growth.
How can stem cells help with injury recovery?
Stem cells possess remarkable regenerative potential, which therapies and procedures like those Curry is undergoing take advantage of. The cells that make up bone and cartilage typically derive from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which, in addition to their ability to turn into a variety of specialised cell types, also have anti-inflammatory properties. This makes them ideal to help repair damaged tissue, particularly cartilage, which has very limited regenerative capacity of its own.
Curry is far from the only elite athlete to turn to stem cells to get back to form. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo used stem cell therapies to successfully address knee problems[8], while tennis great Rafael Nadal treated both chronic knee issues and a long-standing back complaint[8][9]. Boxing legend Mike Tyson also had stem cell therapy.[8]
To find out more about the regenerative power of stem cells, and how your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells could safeguard their health for life, simply fill in the form below to request a free information pack.
References
FIND OUT MORE, REQUEST YOUR WELCOME PACK TODAY
All you need to know to make an informed decision. Provide your contact details to request: – Complete Welcome Pack and Parent’s Guide – Information via email – Contact from our specialist advisors
