Oct 22, 2015
Autograft is a tissue or organ that is grafted into a new position in or on the body of the individual from whom it was removed; whereas allograft is the transplantation of tissue taken from one individual to another. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate is an autograft while Amniotic Fluid Concentrate is an allograft. Autograft, at this time serves as the gold standard for almost all situations in which the use of orthobiologics is indicated. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) offers nearly every essential component involved in reversing the damage caused by arthritis including Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Growth Factors, Cytokines, and Vascular Progenitor Cells. Because of the inherent value of Bone Marrow, my first interventional thought is BMAC; in addition it is virtually free of risks and side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved certain growth factors and allied substances for specific indications. Platelet Rich Plasma falls into this category. In addition to BMAC, Autogenous PRP contains many growth factors as well. Stem Cells are at this time, the ideal biological treatment because they recreate the original microenvironment and supply paracrine factors (a type of hormone which binds to receptors in nearby cells influencing their function). Bone Marrow Aspirate contains a variety of cell types such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), osteoprogenitor cells (OPCs), stem cell niche-supporting cells, and cytokines.
You bet this is confusing and not easy to understand. That’s why I try to clarify by writing the Blog. At the same time, it demands that a clinician stays well informed and not depend on the hype of marketing from the start-ups in the field of orthobiologics to influence a potential patient intervention. On Thursday, I travel to Broomfield, Colorado for the first meeting of the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation, the first not for profit dedicated to Regenerative Interventional Orthopedics: The Next Frontier. My presentation will be based on the 24 month outcomes of Bone Marrow Concentrate in knee arthritis. Another issue will be addressed, are there viable stem cells in Amniotic Fluid Concentrate? The Regenexx Advisory Board of which I am a member, will review the challenges presented by the patient with Grade 4 Osteoarthritis for whom until now, we have had little to offer other than referral for a joint replacement. Next week, I will be in a position to upgrade the reader about the present role, if any for mechanically liberated, adipose derived, stem cells as this subject as well will be studied by the advisory panel.
Tags: Amniotic, arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, PRP, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, technology, treatment
Oct 16, 2015
Tissue Regeneration has become the new standard for Grades 2 and 3 arthritis. Three years ago, I anticipated the future recognizing that the risks of joint replacement surgery were not fully taken into account when a surgeon recommended a new hip, knee or shoulder. Certainly, in advanced arthritis (Grade 4) there is little alternative for pain relief and restoration of function; but for Grades 2 and 3, do the risks outweigh the benefits? What is not taken seriously enough are the risks inherent in a surgical procedure. A recent scientific article reminds us of those risks.
“Knee, hip replacements might be bad for the heart short-term.”
“Contrary to some recent research, Boston-based researchers found osteoarthritis patients who had total knee or hip arthroplasty procedures were at increased risk of myocardial infarction in the early post-operative period. Their findings, published Aug. 31 in Arthritis & Rheumatology, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, indicate long-term risk of heart attack did not persist, while the risk for venous thromboembolism remained years after the procedure.”
Up until 2001, the patient undergoing a joint replacement was discharged on post operative day four or five. Any complications taking place were reported as a postoperative morbidity, rarely, as a mortality. Today, a patient will leave the hospital between 23 and 36 hours following a joint replacement. Should, if, or when a complication ensues, it may never be recorded as a readmission to another hospital if not registered. Medicare has started penalizing hospitals for high readmission rates within 30 days of a discharge but this is only a recent development and doesn’t as of yet, include readmissions to a second location.
Last time, I indicated I would start updating the reader with new developments in the field of Regenerative Medicine. The goal of regenerative therapies is to modulate the stages of healing including inflammation, cell migration and proliferation. We do this though use of tissue grafts such as Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate.
Tags: arthritis, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment
Oct 1, 2015
As I have previously indicated in my Blog, the world of Cellular Orthopedics is growing at an exponential pace. Evidence Based Medicine supports weight reduction, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, and cortisone injections for symptomatic relief. Evidence Based Medicine no longer supports the use of Hyaluronic Acid injections (visco-supplementation). Historically, the next step is a joint replacement when the aforementioned conservative measures no longer have an effect. When I initiated my practice of Interventional Orthopedics as part of the Regenexx Network, their patient satisfaction surveys supported the use of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate interventions for osteoarthritic joints. Since my entry into the sub-discipline of Regenerative Medicine, we have gathered data on every patient seeking consultation and care and, have expanded the Outcomes measurement intake to include objective data points in addition to those of a subjective nature. Along the way, we have gained a better understanding as to how a patient might better respond to Interventional orthopedic options. The evidence is growing.
Just as my practice has grown and the Regenexx Outcomes Data base has grown, so too have the Interventional Orthopedic treatment alternatives increased. Now there is Amniotic Fluid Concentrates available to replace Hyaluronic Acid as a six to 12 month anti-inflammatory. As of July of this year, two companies have introduced Adipose derived stem cell alternatives claiming a mechanical means of emulsifying fat and eliminating the need for the enzyme collagenase; the latter not approved by the FDA when it comes to the musculoskeletal system. As of this time, there is no scientific evidence to support the claims of success in arthritis with both Amniotic Fluid Concentrate and Adipose Derived Stem Cells. Those studies will take several years before there is clinical evidence to support said use in arthritis.
What we have learned and is supported by clinical evidence is how to better plan and prepare for a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate intervention. First a clinician must rule out referral of pain from other sources; this is accomplished by a thorough history and physical examination. The status of a meniscus, labrum, and the articular cartilage must be taken into account. Mechanical malalignment –a bowed leg or knock knee-must be ascertained and excesses corrected. Ligamentous deficiencies will contribute to the end result and must be corrected before any Intervention of an orthopedic nature.
I have provided a lot for a reader to digest. If you want clarification or to learn if you are a candidate for INTERVENTIONAL ORTHOPEDIC to postpone or eliminate a joint replacement for osteoarthritis, call for an appointment:.
847 390 7666
Tags: Amniotic, arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Studies, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, Subchondroplasty, treatment
Sep 24, 2015
An all too common practice today is when the surgeon looks at your X-ray, tells you that you have “Bone on Bone “ and that you need a Total Joint Replacement. There is little discussion of the risks and the potential of an unsatisfactory result. The patient looks for pain relief but doesn’t really appreciate why a joint replacement may be indicated or whether there may be other options for delaying or even avoiding a joint replacement; particularly in Grades two and three osteoarthritis.
During my orthopedic training (readers of this Blog are aware I was a joint replacement surgeon for 37 years before “graduating” into interventional orthopedics) I was made aware that the X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis included joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis and osteophyte formation. The lay public refers to these observations as “bone on bone” and spurs. The general connotation is that these findings are consistent with Degenerative Arthritis. The synonym is Hypertrophic Osteoarthritis. The other general category of arthritis is Inflammatory and the most frequent category is Rheumatoid Arthritis. The synonym for Inflammatory Arthritis is Atrophic Arthritis in which there is joint space narrowing with osteoporotic adjacent bone changes (joint space narrowing without spurs or thickening of subchondral bone). There is yet another presentation on X-ray of Degenerative Arthritis that is not inflammatory but shares the atrophic nature of bony change. These occur in patients experiencing systemic osteoporosis who undergo degenerative changes. The interesting observation of the latter category is these subjects don’t hurt until very late into the disease process.
In trying to understand what causes the pain in degenerative arthritis, I haven’t lost sight of the inflammatory mature of the bioimmune process inside the joint but I am recently reminded of the shock absorbing and structural support nature of the bone supporting the cartilage. Is the pain generator the bone or the inflammation within the joint? If there is still a joint space but hypertrophic (sclerotic) subchondral bone, will the subchondroplasty alter the progression of osteoarthritis and delay or postpone a joint replacement? If there is X-ray evidence of “Bone on Bone”, should a bone marrow aspirate concentrate intervention be coupled with the subchondroplasty? If there is atrophic arthritis of a degenerative nature, should treatment be limited to an intraarticular intervention alone? Incidentally, Atrophic Arthritis of a degenerative nature is determined after a C-reactive protein and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate serum test excludes inflammatory systemic disease.
What is causing your joint pain and what might be done to delay or perhaps avoid a joint replacement while returning you to a more active life? Call and make an appointment so I may assess you, review images and advance an evidence-based recommendation:
847 390 7666
Tags: arthritis, athletes, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, Subchondroplasty, treatment, Ultrasound Guided Injection
Sep 10, 2015
The PERSPECTIVE section of the Chicago Tribune / Wednesday, February 11, 2015 ran the headline and an article written by Gerald D Skoning. It was well thought out, I have kept the page on my desk since February thinking that this was a marvelous subject for me to Blog about and how to possibly extend the career of injured or aging athletes, be they amateur or professional.
I am surrounded by several good friends who want to continue skiing, cycling, wadding up a stream with fly rod in hand, or spend an hour each day in the health club. Unfortunately, most of my contemporaries in their sixties and seventies have hung up their athletic gear but maybe it isn’t too late for you. An athlete doesn’t have to win but you might still enjoy competing and participating. Our mission statement is our ethos. Mary, the research coordinator and physical therapist in our office wore her medal to work on Tuesday earned as a cycling participant in the Co-Ed relay division of the Chicago Triathlon two weekends ago. I have recently returned from a week of cycling and fly fishing in Southwest Wisconsin. I am not injury free nor have I avoided the effects of arthritis after a lifetime of athletic participation. When the time came where I was surrounded by “ I am just a used to be”; I opted for a cellular orthopedic intervention to my left knee and here I am. Grit and determination can prolong your recreational and athletic enjoyment; so can Orthobiologics. Our regenerative offerings contain an enhanced profile of ant-inflammatory cytokines, anabolic growth factors, and adult mesenchymal stem cells. Our data clearly documents improved function of the knee. With the introduction of Subchondroplasty, we hope to do even better. Whereas our initial hip outcomes did not compare to those of the knee, the several patients who returned for a second procedure are doing extremely well. Now I am happy to note that patients presenting with arthritic shoulders and ankles are very improved from our interventions,
You must decide if you want to be a “still” or “used to be”. When four of us rode up and down the hills of the Driftless Area two weeks ago for hours at a time, you couldn’t match that camaraderie. I did the same four weeks earlier with my wife and two sons; the time has not come and I won’t quit because the next orthobiologic intervention for the other knee is waiting.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Mature Athlete, medicine, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenexx, stem cells, Subchondroplasty, treatment
