The Regenerative Medicine Menu
- Hydrocortisone
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Amniotic Fluid Concentrate (AFC)
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC)
- Regenexx-SD Procedure
- Simple Adipose Graft
- Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)
The human body posses a remarkable capacity to heal. Following tissue damage or disease, the body’s immune response coordinates a sequence of events to fight off harmful disease or infections and repair the damaged tissue. While scar tissue may form as a byproduct of rapid healing, scar tissue may be remodeled over time. This is the Normal Healing Response. The goal of regenerative therapies is to modulate these stages of healing be it soft tissue, cartilage or bone.
As a response to the delisting by the AAOS of Hyaluronic Acid from the osteoarthritis armamentarium, industry has attempted to fill the void with Amniotic Fluid Concentrate. For those unfamiliar, when a pregnant woman schedules a C-Section, she is approached about “donating” her amniotic fluid that may be recovered at the time of the procedure. During the course of the pregnancy, the potential donor is screened for communicable diseases. There is little if any immuno-rejection phenomenon and the AFC has growth factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines and Hyaluronic acid all in high concentration. While there are large numbers of stem cells deposited by the fetus and the placenta during the course of the pregnancy, by time the Amniotic Fluid is concentrated, processed, frozen for preservation and finally fast thawed for usage, little in the way of viable stem cells may be observed. Never the less, the AFC has great potential in the arthritic setting; and when micronized, is a marvelous adjunct in effecting wound healing for the diabetic and wound that won’t heal.
At our Regenerative Pain Center, we have observed over 40 different interpretations for the term PRP. The problem is that there is no standard of concentration, quality or quantity. To that end, an attempt is underway to reach accord on an actual standard definition. Then there comes the dilemma of whether the PRP is best when leukocyte free or not. Next comes the argument to support Platelet Poor Plasma (PPP). In our practice, we alter the formula according to the needs of the patient.
You will note at the get go, the repeat Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate bullets. There is bone marrow aspirate concentrate and then there is the Regenexx -SD approach. The latter is what has been so effective in our practice for three and a half years; so much so that it is what I truly believe in for moderate osteoarthritis and even advanced in certain settings.
While “simple” adipose grafts are heavily marketed, let me refer you to Pope Brock’s Charlatans, first published in 2008 to understand my view of how plastic surgeons are victimizing patients by including the management of arthritis in their cosmetic approaches. Last of all is the new introduction of the Stromal Vascular Fraction following the micro-fracture of fat graft. The latter became available in the US in mid summer, 2015. Clinical trials are in progress. If you want to delay or possibly avoid a joint replacement for arthritis, call for a consultation 847 390 7666
Tags: Amniotic, arthritis, athletes, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Hip, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Platelet Rich Plasma, PRP, Regenerative, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment