Regenerative therapies are a spectrum of cutting-edge therapeutic techniques used to treat the cause of a painful condition naturally rather than masking the symptoms. Two of the most effective regenerative therapies include platelet rich plasma injections and biologic cell therapy.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy utilizes platelets taken from the patient’s own blood to rebuild damaged tendons or cartilage. Platelets normally circulate in the bloodstream and are responsible for blood clotting and initiating a healing response in an acute injury. Many acute injuries do not heal adequately and can lead to chronic pain and loss of function in the injured area. PRP therapy involves harvesting the patient’s own platelets and re-injecting those platelets into the site of the injury to initiate healing and improvement of function. This is typically done under image guidance such as ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy.
Biologic Cell Therapy
The concept behind biologic cell therapy is similar to that of PRP therapy: Stem cells are taken from elsewhere in a patient’s body, such as bone marrow or fat tissue, then immediately injected into the patient’s joint. In theory, the injected stem cells act upon stem cells already in the joint and encourage them to “wake up” and repair damaged tissue. Biologic cell therapy can repair tissues that are too damaged to heal on their own. These cells can stimulate the formation of cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bone and fibrous connective tissues.
Treatments
Injuries and conditions commonly treated by regenerative therapy procedures include:
- Back and neck pain
- Golfer’s elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Joint injuries
- Ligament, cartilage and tendon injuries
- Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or shoulder
The Procedure
Typically, patients receive injections at Adams Memorial Hospital’s Outpatient Clinic or in the office of Dr. Robert Kinne. Treatments take about an hour. Patients return home the same day and are often able to work the following day.
