Jun 26, 2017
Five years ago, I “graduated” from a 37-year career as an orthopedic surgeon with a practice based on hip and knee replacement surgery for arthritic joints. Trading my scalpel for a needle, I entered the new discipline of Cellular Orthopedics with a goal of helping patients delay, at times avoid a joint replacement for the arthritic hip and knee joint. In my transition, I introduced the same integration of research, patient care, and education into Regenerative Medicine that I had pioneered as the head of a joint replacement program at a major-medical center in Chicago, helping that center emerge as one of the five most recognized programs in The United States.
At the beginning and continuing to this day, Cellular Orthopedics has been based on the use of a patient’s own Platelet Rich Plasma and Bone Marrow Concentrate as the source for providing pain relief and functional improvement to a patient experiencing impairment from an arthritic joint. I have almost five years of outcomes data to support my therapeutic recommendations. Platelet Rich Plasma offers healing and pain relieving promise for the patient; while the Stem Cells and Growth Factors in Bone Marrow Concentrate offer regenerative potential in addition, all this while FDA compliant.
Over the past year however, there has been an explosion in the marketing of untested and unproven alternatives continually introduced under the Regenerative Medicine umbrella. Web sites make unsubstantiated claims, purchased media campaigns become a source of false advertising and courses both live and on-line promise expertise credentialing in 48 hours.
As a response to this chaos, I have founded The Center for Orthobiologic Clinical Trials whereby I am able to validate or challenge the plethora of claims and assist my patients in decision making based on scientific evidence; while at the same time, contributing to the emerging discipline of Interventional Orthopedics. I now have gathered the largest Data Base with long term follow-up of which I am aware documenting the Outcomes of Bone Marrow Concentrate, Amniotic Fluid Concentrate and mechanically emulsified, Adipose Derived, Lipogems.
The next step is to study the outcomes of combining cellular orthopedic interventions into the joint with the added step of injecting Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Rich Plasma into the bone adjacent to the joint. I am currently recruiting patients for the latter trial. For those who meet inclusion criteria, there is a discount for said care. Interested patients should call (312) 475-1893 on Monday or Thursday.
If you want to become better informed, browse my website www.sheinkopmd.com.
You may watch my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com or call central schedulaing at (312) 475-1893 for a new patient consultation.
Tags: Amniotic Fluid Concentrate, Bone Marrow Concentrate, cellular treatment, Hip pain, joint replacement, knee pain, lipogems, mechanically emulsified Adipose Derived, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Osteoarthritis, PRP, regenerative medicine
May 18, 2017
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder, and continues to be the leading cause of impaired quality of life in the United Sates. While OA is defined as the progressive loss of cartilage structure and function; that definition has most recently been expanded to include changes to bone, tissues within and around the joint and changes in alignment.
While trauma, disease, infection, genetics, gout, and neuropathy may lead to secondary osteoarthritis, primary OA is the result of a degeneration that occurs with normal use. This wear and tear of the joint becomes more prevalent with advancing age.
Changes to Cartilage
The progressive loss of cartilage is a process that involves three overlapping stages: cartilage matrix (surroundings) damage, cartilage chondrocyte (cell) response to tissue damage, and decline of chondrocyte synthetic response (ability to maintain its environment)
Changes to Bone
As cartilage degenerates, there is increased exposure of the bone supporting the joint (subchondral bone). With time, the subchondral bone becomes dense (sclerosis) with cyst formation. Cartilage does not regenerate on its own starting about age 40. With time the aborted reparative process may result in osteophyte formation (spurs).
Changes to Periarticular Soft Tissues (in and around the joint)
Synovitis develops (inflammation of the joint lining) because of the release of inflammatory factors by the chondrocytes. A vicious cycle continues with further break down of cartilage followed by thickening of the joint capsule and shortening leading to loss of motion. Muscle undergoes atrophy (shrinkage and weakening) with the relative inactivity of the joint because of pain leading to instability
Changes to Alignment
Abnormal hip-knee-ankle alignment can accelerate structural changes; varus malalignment (bowed leg) increases medial compartment (inner side of the knee) disease fourfold, and valgus (knock knee) malalignment increases lateral (outer) disease twofold. Whether malalignment is associated with development of osteoarthritis or if malalignment is a result of OA is still a subject of debate. However, it has been demonstrated that malalignment can affect more than cartilage because malalignment predis- poses the patient to bone marrow lesions (nonhealing stress fractures).
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Life style modification, rehabilitation (physical therapy), complementary and alternative therapy, pain relievers, intraarticular injections (cortisone, hyaluronic acid gels), arthroscopic and joint replacement surgery, and now, regenerative intervention.
Regenerative Intervention (an injection, not an incision)
Cellular intervention is what I do. Biologic solutions through cartilage regeneration is the goal of my practice. My stem cell source is the patient’s own bone marrow. Equally important are growth factors; the latter found in bone marrow and in platelets.
To learn more, visit my web site www.sheinkopmd.com
You may watch my webinar www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Then schedule an appointment 312 475 1893
Tags: arthritis, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Interventional Orthopedics, Knee Pain Relief, Orthopedic Care, Osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine
May 5, 2017
NON-INTERVENTIONAL MEANS OF MANAGING KNEE ARTHRITIS
A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
PUBLIC RELEASE: 2-MAY-2017
Weight loss can slow down knee joint degeneration
CREDIT: RADIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
OAK BROOK, Ill. – Overweight and obese people who lost a substantial amount of weight over a 48-month period showed significantly lower degeneration of their knee cartilage, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. Being overweight or obese can place extra pressure on joints and cartilage, causing them to wear away. In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation in the joints, raising the risk for osteoarthritis.
“For this research, we analyzed the differences between groups with and without weight loss,” said the study’s lead author, Alexandra Gersing, M.D., from the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. “We looked at the degeneration of all knee joint structures, such as menisci, articular cartilage and bone marrow.”
The research team investigated the association between weight loss and the progression of cartilage changes on MRI over a 48-month period in 640 overweight and obese patients (minimum body mass index [BMI] 25 kg/m2) who had risk factors for osteoarthritis or MRI evidence of mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Data was collected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a nationwide research study focused on the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Patients were categorized into three groups: those who lost more than 10 percent of their body weight, those who lost five to 10 percent of their body weight, and a control group whose weight remained stable.
The results showed that patients with 5 percent weight loss had lower rates of cartilage degeneration when compared with stable weight participants. In those with 10 percent weight loss, cartilage degeneration slowed even more.
Not only did the researchers find that weight loss slowed articular cartilage degeneration, they also saw changes in the menisci. Menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilage pads that protect and cushion the joint.
“The most exciting finding of our research was that not only did we see slower degeneration in the articular cartilage, we saw that the menisci degenerated a lot slower in overweight and obese individuals who lost more than 5 percent of their body weight, and that the effects were strongest in overweight individuals and in individuals with substantial weight loss,” Dr. Gersing said.
Light to moderate exercise is also recommended to protect against cartilage degeneration in the knee.
“Our study emphasizes the importance of individualized therapy strategies and lifestyle interventions in order to prevent structural knee joint degeneration as early as possible in obese and overweight patients at risk for osteoarthritis or with symptomatic osteoarthritis,” Dr. Gersing said. [end]
If you want to learn more about postponing or perhaps even avoiding surgery for a joint that alters your quality of life, call 312-475-1893.
To learn more, check out my web site at www.Sheinkopmd.com
View my webinar at www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Osteoarthritis, Regenerative
Mar 16, 2017
As most readers of this Blog already know, for more than 37 years, I was a reconstructive joint replacement surgeon at a major Chicago medical center, where I served as the director of the joint replacement program. I retired as emeritus professor seven years ago; after having pioneered the integration of a clinical practice with joint replacement research and education. While I had completed over 20,000 hip and knee replacements during my career and played a major role in authoring over 85 major orthopedic publications, one of the highlights of my career was the recognition by the resident staff of awarding me the teacher of the year award in orthopedic surgery. At the same time, I had the opportunity to share my joint replacement knowledge around the world. I addition, many orthopedic surgeons from across the globe would come to observe and learn my techniques. One such group came from Norway. What I learned from them during their visit was that no procedure would be allowed within the scope of the government health care system for which there wasn’t a ten-year outcome data base. Their health care system wouldn’t pay for that which didn’t have a track record and for which there wasn’t safety and efficacy studies.
I am continually amazed at the epidemic of web sites promising regenerative medicine treatments for which there is no data of success and for which there are no safety and efficacy studies. This false news seems to be an increasingly common phenomenon; more bothersome though are anecdotal outcomes cited in media placements without a scientific foundation. Last week, a major news outlet focused on a patient who had received stem cells in amniotic fluid. The hospital PR division scored a major success by placing the ad; but the Television Channel that broadcast the story apparently failed to do any independent scientific investigation to support the claims of living stem cells in commercially available amniotic fluid concentrate. The center behind the placement and the physician involved must have been influenced by the false news now commonplace; namely, amniotic fluid has living stem cells when concentrated, sterilized, irradiated, cryopreserved and fast thawed. Certainly, the video of the patient climbing stairs was a tribute to the success of the procedure; however, the success of unknown duration had nothing to do with the claim that the end result was based on regeneration attributable to stem cells.
Amniotic Fluid Concentrate has good things in it but not viable, living stem cells and there is no regenerative potential. I am able to so state as I am the principal investigator in a national ongoing amniotic fluid clinical trial to determine safety, efficacy, duration of effect and appropriate dosage.
To schedule an appointment call (312) 475-1893
To visit my web site go to www.sheinkopmd.com
To watch my webinar visit www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: amniotic fluid, cellular orthopedics, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, cryopreserved, Interventional Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine, stem cell treatment, stem cells
Mar 13, 2017
It came to pass over the last several weeks that I had contact with two separate patients; one in my office and one by e-mail inquiry. Both individuals had, prior to treatment, roughly the same levels of arthritic impairment. Both with grade three arthritic knees, were similar in age, weight, height and previous levels of activity. The e-mail contact presented with a history of having undergone a total knee replacement two years earlier. The outcome was a swollen, painful and stiff knee leading to a repeat surgery (revision) one year later. Because of persistent pain, swelling and stiffness, a recent knee aspiration had been completed leading to the diagnosis of an infection. The email inquirer indicated that his orthopedic surgeon and infectious disease consultant had recommended surgical removal of the prosthesis, placement of an antibiotic impregnated cement spacer for three months during which time a pic line would allow for a three-month continuum of intravenous antibiotics. There after assuming repeat cultures of the joint would be consistent with elimination of the infection as well confirmed by a normal Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, C-Reactive Protein and White Blood Cell Count, yet a fourth surgery would allow for another attempt with a Total Knee Prosthesis. All this assuming the infection had been eradicated. Space does not allow for the options if all of the above measures were to fail.
Turning our attention to the second patient who had undergone a Bone Marrow Concentrate/Stem cell intervention as contrasted to the surgical approach, he had recently returned from a second week of helicopter skiing. While it is true that he couldn’t ski eight hours a day for seven straight days, he had enjoyed a great week with friends and his daughter even if he had skied only two full days and four half days. This is his third consecutive year of helicopter skiing made possible by the Bone Marrow Concentrate/Stem Cell intervention he had undergone three and a half years ago.
Certainly, there is a time and place for a joint replacement; but the saga in my first paragraph reviews only some of the risks inherent in said surgery. On the other hand, a Cellular Orthopedic intervention in my experience carries a very minimal risk. In over seven hundred procedures in the last four and a half years, I have not found an infection. Certainly, every patient doesn’t go helicopter skiing after the procedure; our outcomes data clearly documents a return to or continuation of a very active lifestyle after a cellular procedure for an arthritic joint.
To schedule an appointment call (312) 475-1893
To visit my web site go to www.sheinkopmd.com
To watch my webinar visit www.ilcellulartherapy.com
Tags: arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Trial. Mitchell B. Sheinkop, Interventional Orthopedics, knee arthritis, knee injury, knee pain, knee replacement, knee revision, Orthopedic Surgeon, Osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine
