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Both stem cell and PRP therapy have been in use for quite some time now. In the past, the products were very difficult and expensive to extract and utilize, limiting benefits and availability to only professional athletes. Now, with newer technologies, harvesting techniques, and manufacturers producing more affordable and advanced equipment, these products can more easily be obtained and put to use for your benefit. Biological Benefits: Growth factors to signal cell recruitment and stimulate tissue repair pathways Stem cells to give added cell signaling power to supercharge tissue repair pathways (note: includes bone marrow concentrate and amniotic membrane injections) Indications: In-office injection to relieve the pain associated with: Arthritis Partial-thickness tendon tears (Example: rotator cuff) Chronic tendinitis / tendinosis (Examples: tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff tendinosis, DeQuervain’s tendonitis of the wrist) Ligament injuries (Examples: wrist sprain (TFCC and others), elbow ulnar collateral ligament tear in overhead athletes) Adjunctive treatment at the time of surgery to supercharge your healing capacity: Rotator cuff repair Biceps tendon repair Ligament repair Nerve repair Wound problems Treatment Options: I. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy PRP uses a patient's own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues. In response to an injury or tissue damage, your body naturally recruits platelets from the blood to initiate a healing response. Under normal conditions, platelets store numerous growth factors that are released in response to signals from the injured tissue. Modern technology allows us to concentrate platelets from your blood, and induce this growth factor release as we inject the solution directly into injured tissue, simulating this same healing response in a more powerful form. By enhancing the body's natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state. II. Bone Marrow–Derived Stem Cell Therapy It is well established that a significant population of our body’s stem cells are contained within our bone marrow. By harvesting blood and tissue from the bone marrow of the hip, an injectable product can be produced by concentrating platelets and cells withdrawn through a needle aspiration procedure done with local anesthetic in the office or as an adjunct to certain surgical procedures in the operating room. BMC contains all of the growth and healing factors in PRP, along with concentrated mesenchymal stem cells, which further contribute to the regenerative process. III. Amniotic–Derived Stem Cell Therapy Processed tissue derived from human amnion and amniotic fluid includes adult stem cells and growth factors. The product is derived from processed placental membrane from scheduled cesarean sections with full consent of the donor. Amniotic tissues provide an enhanced environment for tissue growth, repair, and healing along with anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring properties. This combination of properties is excellent to remedy joint pain associated with arthritis, tendon injuries, and ligament injuries. An additional benefit that sets this option apart is that the product is not obtained from you through a blood draw procedure. Amniotic therapy is frequently utilized as a powerful non-operative therapy delivered to the target site by a simple in-office injection. Amniotic therapy is also an excellent adjunct to tendon, ligament, and nerve repair surgeries to boost your healing potential. Treatment plan: Depending on the severity and duration of your injury, one to three injections are suggested. Following the initial treatment, a follow-up visit occurs 3-4 weeks later. At this visit an evaluation of your response to the initial therapy is performed and a decision will be made regarding the potential need for additional treatments. In general, chronic injuries often require more than one injection. In both acute and chronic injuries, injections may be combined with an exercise or physical therapy program to enhance the success of the treatment. Michael A. Cohn, M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon Shoulder to Hand Surgery Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County (561) 967-6500 Shoulder replacement Palm Beach County
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PRP, stem cell, arthritis, tendinitis, rotator cuff, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, shoulder replacement, arthroplasty,
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