Orthopaedic injuries and conditions affect millions of patients every day around the world. When patients have exhausted conservative measures to treat these conditions, surgery is usually the next step. But what if there was a treatment that could help your body heal itself, allowing you to delay or even avoid surgery? Adult stem cell therapy may be the answer you are looking for!
How do stem cells help me heal?
Mesenchymal stem cells are specific cells that engage with our musculoskeletal system. Found throughout the body, these stem cells aid in the healing process by turning into specialized cells that repair degenerated or injured structures. With their ability to turn into different tissue types such as cartilage, tendon, muscle, and bone, utilizing stem cells can help improve the natural healing process and allow for both pain relief and accelerated recovery.
How do you collect adult stem cells?
Unlike using embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells are found throughout our adult bodies, eliminating the ethical and moral concerns over their use. Adult bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue contain an abundant source of these stem cells, as well as proteins and growth factors which also promote healing, making them ideal sources for stem cell therapy.
How is the therapy performed?
Stem cell therapy is a fairly simple treatment for patients weighing the option against surgery. Adult stem cells are harvested from a patient’s own body, helping reduce the risk of infection and tissue rejection. After properly numbing the area, our physician extracts a sample of bone marrow from the patient’s hip. This sample is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the beneficial components, including stem cells and growth factors, from the rest of the blood cells. The remaining agents are then combined and injected directly into the injured joint to accelerate tissue and bone healing.
Am I a good candidate for stem cell therapy?
Orthopaedic stem cell therapy is a safe and potentially effective treatment option for patients affected by a sports injury or orthopaedic condition. Common uses of stem cells in orthopaedic medicine include:
Healing soft tissues, such as ligaments and tendons
Modulating the symptoms due to degeneration of joint articular cartilage
Treating bone fractures
Stem cell treatment at Arthritis & Sports is a minimally invasive, same-day outpatient procedure. Though recovery can and does vary from patient to patient, our protocols are designed and carried out with the goal of keeping your "downtime” to a minimum. To see if you are a candidate for this procedure, please talk with one of our healthcare providers during your next visit or request a visit here.