Advances in the care of the aging athlete
I have written several blogs in 2012 and 2013 pertaining to my foray into Cellular Orthopedics and the use of Stem Cells recruited from Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in an attempt to avoid or at least delay a joint replacement. As readers know, I am Emeritus Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University and former Director of the Joint Replacement Program having performed over 20,000 hip and knee replacements over 38 years; and at the same time was involved in introducing newer innovations to the joint replacement world. Several years ago, I looked at my contemporaries, my patients as well as myself and determined to do everything possible to delay or avoid joint replacements so as to maintain a high performance level as an aging athlete. The scientific data is clear; a joint replacement recipient ends athleticism in the majority of cases as a trade off for pain relief.
I have been repeatedly criticized within the orthopedic community for having advocated Stem Cell intervention in lieu of a joint replacement in spite of the growing evidence that a Bone Marrow Concentrate intervention for arthritis should be seriously considered as it is allowing patients to return to sports. Incidentally, there is a difference between the demands of fitness machines and those of skiing, cycling, fly-fishing, hockey, tennis, etc. Just as I innovated joint replacements, it looks like the entire orthopedic community is gradually embracing my graduation into cellular orthopedics. Listed below are some the seminars scheduled at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons being held in Chicago this week.
Tues, 3/19, 10:30am-12:30pm
PRP, BMP and Stem Cells: What Surgeons Need to Know
Tues, 3/19, 4-6pm
Cell-Based Strategies for Regenerating Musculoskeletal Tissues
Thurs, 3/21, 10:30am-12:30pm
The Synovial Joint: Structure, Function, Injury and Repair, Osteoarthritis
Fri, 3/22, 8:00-10:00am
Biologic Augmentation of Tendon-Bone healing: Where are we now?
Tags: Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Knee, Orthopedic Surgeon, stem cells