Stem cell therapy has been researched for patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), but research evidence is still limited. Positive patient outcomes depend greatly on the underlying cause of the persistent pain. If the pain is caused by ongoing spinal instability from weakened connective tissue, disc degeneration, facet joint arthritis, or inflammation, biologic therapies may help some patients. If the pain is due to significant scar tissue, nerve injury, or hardware failure, stem cells alone are much less likely to be effective. A physical examination can help make a better deterimination if stem cell therapy will be helpful.
The role of damaged spinal ligaments
Spinal ligaments help limit excessive movement and stabilize each vertebral segment. When these ligaments are stretched or damaged by trauma, repeated strain, surgery, or connective-tissue disorders, abnormal motion may contribute to neck or back pain, facet-joint overload, muscle guarding, and accelerated degeneration.
Stem cell therapy involves injecting bone marrow aspirate concentrate into damaged ligament attachments or facet-joint capsules. The goal is to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen repair and improve ligament strength. Bone-marrow concentrate contains platelets, growth factors, signaling proteins, and a population of mesenchymal stromal cells.
Related research
A study from February 2026 (1) aimed to investigate the long-term connections between Postoperative chronic back pain syndrome and the risks of psychiatric disorders, brain diseases, and mortality. The research involved 603,272 individuals who underwent lumbar spinal surgery between 2009 and 2023. They identified Postoperative chronic back pain syndrome using three criteria: having a diagnosis code for post-laminectomy syndrome, receiving a gabapentinoid prescription for at least 12 weeks, or undergoing surgery. The main outcomes evaluated included psychiatric disorders (like anxiety, depression, and insomnia), brain disorders (including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia), and overall mortality. In the cohort, 169,796 patients (28.1%) met at least one of the criteria for Postoperative chronic back pain syndrome. This condition was significantly linked to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, specifically anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It was also associated with a higher risk of brain disorders, with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia all showing increased risks. Moreover, patients with Postoperative chronic back pain syndrome had a higher risk of all-cause mortality. These associations were consistent across different definitions of PCBPS and in various stratified analyses.
1 Park D, Lee WR, Bang M, Park SJ, Kim JH, Kim HS. Impact of Postoperative Chronic Back Pain Syndrome on the Incidence of Psychiatric and Brain Disorders, and All-Cause Mortality. Journal of Pain Research. 2026 Dec 31;19(0):12475851.
