Advances in the care of the aging athlete. Treating arthritis with Stem Cells.
Since the meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in Chicago last week increased the awareness and debate of treating arthritis with stem cells, I thought I would take this opportunity to share my outcomes data regarding Bone Marrow Aspiration Concentrate (stem cells) in the knee. The development of a scientific paper with significance is a time-consuming matter; and in order to be relevant, it must be statistically accurate. As was the case when I performed joint replacement, every patient I treat with BMAC becomes part of the scientific process enabling me to monitor outcomes and decide what works and in whom stem cells work best. I am invited faculty to the Orthobiologic Institute 4th Annual PRP & Regenerative Symposium, June 7-8 in Los Angeles, CA. Anticipating my paper, this will be the first time an orthopedic joint replacement surgeon will be presenting at a Regenerative Medicine Symposium. I began reviewing my data to date and I found that when compared to Total Knee Replacement recipients I have monitored, the preliminary results of stem cell intervention out perform the knee replacement cohort.
The logical question is whether these patients are comparable? The study criteria which I believe allow me to render an objective, unbiased conclusion include the fact that I am the single surgeon in both series, one individual assessed and documented all cases, arthritis was the sole consideration for treatment, and the same objective outcomes scoring methodology –Knee Society Score (KSS)- was the basis for comparison. In this methodology, points are assigned for pain, motion, and function with a score between 80 to 100 points being considered excellent. In the patient population who underwent a knee replacement, the mean score at one-year post operative was 80. In the BMAC stem cell group, the preliminary outcome score was 85. If you consider the superior scoring of the stem cell intervention outcomes and the fact that the complication rate is almost nil without having to face a future revision surgery as well as the ability to return to or maintain a high level of athleticism, give me a stem cell procedure for knee arthritis or question my decision making process. “Stay active my friend”
Tags: arthritis, stem cells