Introduction
Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that utilizes the body's natural healing mechanism to treat various conditions. Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics are being used in regenerative medicine to renew and repair diseased or damaged tissues, and have shown promising results in treatments of various orthopedic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and autoimmune conditions. Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics are present in all of us acting like a repair system for the body. However, with increased age sometimes the optimum amount of Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics are not delivered to the injured area. The goal of Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is to amplify the natural repair system of the patient's body.
Use of Regenerative Cell Therapy in Orthopedics
There are amazing advances occurring in the field of regenerative medicine using Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics products. We utilize Mesenchymal Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics, which means they can develop into various cell types including bone, cartilage, ligament, and tendon. The products we utilize are usually derived from the patient's own bone marrow blood or from donated umbilical cord blood. The bone marrow blood is usually obtained from the iliac crest of the pelvic bone by inserting a special needle and then concentrating the cells with a centrifuge. Currently, Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is used to treat various degenerative conditions of the shoulder, knees, hips, and spine. They are also being used in the treatment of various soft tissue (Muscle, ligament, and tendon) as well as bone related injuries.
What is PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is an "autologous blood therapy" that uses a patient's own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues. In response to an injury or tissue damage, your body naturally recruits platelets and white blood cells from the blood to initiate a healing response. Under normal conditions, platelets store numerous growth factors which are released in response to signals from the injured tissue. Modern technology allows us to concentrate platelets and white blood cells from your blood and induce this growth factor release as we inject the solution directly into injured tissue, simulating this same healing response in a more powerful form. By enhancing the body's natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state.
What is Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC)
A significant population of our bodies' Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics are contained within our bone marrow. Bone Marrow Concentrate contains all of the growth and healing factors in PRP, along with concentrated stem-like cells which further contribute to the regenerative process. By harvesting blood and tissue from the bone marrow space of the hip, an injectable product can be produced. This process concentrates platelets and cells withdrawn through a simple outpatient needle aspiration procedure. The procedure is done with local anesthetic and light sedation.
Who is a Good Candidate for a Regenerative Cell Procedure?
You may be a good candidate for regenerative cell therapy if you have been suffering from joint pain and want to improve your quality of life while avoiding complications related to invasive surgical procedures.
The following conditions can be treated with PRP and BMC
Knee pain
- Tendon and muscle injuries
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
Shoulder and Arm Pain
- Rotator Cuff tendonitis or partial tears
- Bicipital tendonitis
- Collateral Ligament sprain or tear
- Golfer's or Tennis elbow
Lower leg or Foot Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Peroneal tendonitis
- Shin splints
- Ankle sprains/ligament injury
- Achilles tendonitis or partial tears Hip Pain
- Muscle Injury or pain
- Tendon injury
- Osteoarthritis
- Hamstring tendonitis or tears
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Pyriformis Syndrome
- Trochanteric Bursitis
Preparing for the Procedure
It is important that you stop taking any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at least two weeks before your procedure. This is usually done under anesthesia. If you take blood thinner medication, be sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Preparing for a Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics procedure is relatively easy and your doctor will give you specific instructions depending on your condition.
Regenerative Cell procedure
The procedure begins with your doctor extracting Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics from your own bone marrow. Bone marrow is usually aspirated from your hip region. Your doctor will first clean and numb your hip area. A needle is then introduced into an area of your pelvic bone known as the iliac crest. Bone marrow is then aspirated using a special syringe and the sample obtained is spun in a machine for 10 to 15 minutes and a concentrated Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics sample is separated. Your doctor then cleans and numbs your affected area to be treated and then, under the guidance of special x-rays, injects the Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics into the diseased region. The whole procedure usually takes less than one hour, and you may return home on the same day of the procedure.
Post-Operative Care
- You will most likely be able to return to work within a few days following your procedure.
- You will need to take it easy and avoid any load bearing activities for at least two weeks following your procedure.
- You will need to refrain from taking nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) for a while as this can affect the healing process of your body.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is a relatively simple procedure that avoids the complications associated with invasive surgical procedures.
- As Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy uses the cells derived from your own body it reduces the chances of an immune rejection.
- The disadvantage of adult Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is a lack of data about its long-term effects as it is a newer evolving therapy.
Risks and Complications
Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy is generally considered a safe procedure with minimal complications, however, as with any medical procedure, complications can occur. Some risks factors related to Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics therapy include infection as the Regenerative Cell Therapy/ Orthobiologics may become contaminated with bacteria, viruses or other pathogens that may cause disease during the preparation process.