Stem Cell Therapy in Virginia

Traditional therapies for ligament injury, tendonitis, degenerative arthritis and back pain all have one thing in common. They help with pain reduction, but they do not change the course of the condition. They do not FIX the problem!

Regenerative Medicine with stem cell therapy is cutting edge and represents the next frontier in medicine. The therapies provide the potential to repair and heal the condition, while providing relief simultaneously.

Here is an example. When an athlete sustains an ankle ligament injury, it may take six to nine weeks to heal. At that point, the athlete can get back on the field.

There are two issues with this scenario that stem cell therapy can fix. The first is the time frame. Stem cell therapy may cut the time in half needed to heal these injuries.

The second issue is that ligament injuries, when allowed to heal by themselves, never heal back to one hundred percent. The same goes for tendon injury.  With stem cell therapy, the injury may be able to heal back to one hundred percent.

Regenerative therapies may allow individuals to avoid or delay the need for surgery when it comes to cartilage injuries, tendonitis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and more. Surgery requires a potentially lengthy rehab along with the chance of complications.

With such a small risk, outpatient stem cell procedures offer an exceptional upside. Make your appointment at Orthopaedic & Spine Center today!

For decades the solution to joint and soft tissue pain has been a two pronged approach: first, mask the pain, and when that is no longer possible, surgery such as joint replacement. Anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections offer temporary relief until the condition exacerbates. Surgery is invasive and may require a long, uncertain recovery, including physical therapy.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 900,000 people in the United States underwent knee and hip replacement in 2011, and that number increased steadily over the following several years. Whether due to injury or arthritis, American joints are in sore need of a remedy more reliable and more sustainable.

The answer just might be found in regenerative medicine, procedures that repair tissue damage as opposed to ignoring or masking it. Stem cells are at the heart of regenerative medicine, and for decades have been used in wound care. Research has proven that stem cells may differentiate into cells for skin, muscle, bone, and even cartilage. Now, using amniotic stem cells, their application is providing new life for those suffering from arthritis, and soft tissue injury.

Amniotic stem cells have proven particularly effective as an alternative to surgical joint replacement for shoulder, knees and hips, the most common areas affected by arthritis. Certain properties of the amniotic cells lend themselves perfectly to pain reduction without the need for joint replacement.

By the very nature of the cells’ nurturing “home” environment, the amniotic sac, cells contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory properties as well as growth factors, both of which, painlessly target and remedy joint pain. In addition, hyaluronic acid, naturally found in joint fluid, and also a property of amniotic fluid, works to regenerate and repair naturally.

Amniotic stem cell procedures are administered by the Board Certified physicians at Orthopaedic & Spine Center as an outpatient. Research indicates no recipient rejection of the amniotic stem cells, as the body naturally assimilates its presence in the regenerative process.

Ethical concerns are eliminated in knowing amniotic stem cells are extracted from amniotic membrane from scheduled cesarean births with full consent of the donors. Rich in life sustaining properties, the amniotic sac feeds and nurtures a baby from conception to birth, and is traditionally discarded after birth.

Eliminating the controversy raised in embryonic stem cell research, the restorative results realized in amniotic joint therapy makes it a viable alternative to joint replacement surgery. Amniotic stem cell procedures are not yet covered by health insurance providers, however, the workup, imaging studies, office visits, etc are covered.

Amniotic derived stem cell material offers five properties that are great for the injured area:
1) A very high concentration of stem cells
2) Anti-inflammatory cytokines
3) High concentration of growth factors
4) Hyaluronic acid which is a great lubricating factor for joints
5) Anti-microbial elements (rare infections)

Initial small studies are showing that amniotic stem cell injections work well for the following indications:
1) Tendonitis
2) Ligament Injury
3) Arthritis
4) Sports Medicine Injuries
5) Cartilage Defects
6) Degenerative Disc Disease
7) Spinal Arthritis
8) Neck & Back Pain
9) Nonhealing wounds from diabetes or other conditions

Drs. Sureja and McFarland at Orthopaedic and Spine Center in Newport News are experts in regenerative medicine procedures. Call the practice today for an appointment today!

The bone marrow is the tissue that makes up the center of the bones. It is where new blood cells are produced. Inside the bone marrow there are two types of stem cells, the hematopoietic cells and the stromal cells. Each type turns into certain types of tissues: hematopoietic produces blood cells and stromal produces fat, bone, and cartilage. The stromal stem cells are also called mesenchymal stem cells, with the terms used interchangeably by scientists and researchers.

It is the mesenchymal stem cells that hold the most potential in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems. It is the mesenchymal cells from one’s bone marrow that hold the key in treating damaged cartilage, bone, intervertebral discs, tendons, ligaments, and other body tissues.

Mesenchymal Cells

Mesenchymal cells are multipotent, meaning that they can differentiate into several types of tissues including tendon, bone, ligament, organs, and cartilage. These cells are mobilized for repair which can help heal cartilage damage, bone fractures, tendon and ligament injury. In normal circumstances, when injury occurs, this stimulation triggers the stem cells to travel to the site to begin healing and repair.

Unfortunately, with natural healing the time frame may take months and not work very well. By injecting one’s own processed bone marrow derived stem cells right into the area of injury, the tissue can heal in full and a lot faster.

In harvesting bone marrow stem cells, the procedure involves mesenchymal cells being harvested from the iliac crest (pelvis). The bone marrow is processed with a kit that helps concentrate the stem cells and growth factors. The procedure takes about half an hour, with numbing medicine being applied to significantly minimize discomfort. Sedation may be given too.

Why Use Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Injections?

Tissues such as ligaments, muscle, cartilage, tendon, and vertebral discs show limited capacity for natural repair. This is unlike bone, which heals incredibly well on its own. This is the main reason why the push for stem cell injections exists. This therapy is being developed to improve the efficiency of repair and/or regeneration of damaged musculoskeletal tissue. The procedure introduces stem cells and growth factors into the affected tissues to promote regeneration of the affected tissues.

The Bottom Line

Numerous professional and amateur athletes have had bone marrow stem cell procedures performed, which can help them get back to a high level of activity faster.

For those individuals suffering from tendonitis of the shoulder, elbow, achilles, degenerative arthritis,  or ligament injury, bone marrow stem cell injections are a low risk, outpatient way for repairing damage and providing pain relief at the same time!

New studies coming out recently have shown successful results with bone marrow derived stem cells for use in the intervertebral disc, knee tissue regeneration, rotator cuff treatments and more. It is a truly exciting time!

Drs. McFarland and Sureja with Orthopaedic & Spine Center are at the forefront of regenerative medicine treatments with stem cells. You will be in good hands!

 The treatment of arthritis along with sports and overuse injuries with platelet-rich plasma has received considerable attention because of its use in the treatment of injuries of high-profile professional athletes. There have also been studies showing it works well for degenerative arthritis along with soft tissue overuse injuries (e.g. rotator cuff tendonitis).

PRP is theorized to promote healing in injuries because of the increased concentration of growth and repair factors. Animal models have also demonstrated that PRP injections can promote proliferation of cartilage producing cells and stem cells. PRP has been shown to include the following growth and repair factors:

• platelet-derived growth factor
• transforming growth factor beta
• fibroblast growth factor
• insulin-like growth factor 1
• insulin-like growth factor 2
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• epidermal growth factor
• Interleukin 8
• keratinocyte growth factor
• connective tissue growth factor

PRP is prepared from the patient’s own venous blood. The blood is run through a centrifuge to increase the concentration of platelets and growth factors. Cycling the blood through the centrifuge produces three layers: (1) the top layer of plasma; (2) the platelets and white blood cells (also known as “the buffy coat”); and (3) the red blood cells.

The middle layer with platelets and white blood cells is the one that is harvested for PRP. PRP can be concentrated to between three to eight times as much as normal blood. This is then injected into the damaged area to stimulate growth and regeneration of healthy tissue, increase blood supply, and promote the repair of damaged tissue.

Proponents of PRP claim that this treatment allows shorter recovery times, and gives comparable outcomes to routine treatment. However, the evidence behind PRP includes successful small clinical trials that show safety and hint at its effectiveness.

The following are some indications for the use of PRP:

• Tendinopathy – this is a general term for degenerative conditions affecting the tendon. This can manifest as decreased tendon strength. This can be caused by aging, repetitive stress, acute injury, and others. Several case studies have shown PRP to have promising results in the treatment of injuries to the tendon, such as with rotator cuff, achilles, elbow and the knee.
• Ligament sprains and tears – PRP has been used to treat damaged ligaments, particularly the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. PRP therapy has been shown to have positive outcomes and improved healing time compared to standard open surgical treatment.
• Muscle tears and strains – animal models have shown that PRP can be used in the treatment of these conditions, although there is still a lack of human clinical trials to make a definitive pronouncement on its effectiveness.
• Post-operative repair – PRP given postoperatively can reduce recovery time, and maintain comparable clinical outcomes. However, more studies are still needed.
• Meniscal pathologies – PRP has been shown in some case studies to promote healing in the avascular central region of the meniscus.
• Degenerative Arthritis

PRP can be considered a promising intervention for sports injuries, and athletes looking for any advantage over their competitors may consider undergoing PRP for faster healing time. In addition, the procedure may help patients delay or avoid the need for surgery with chronic tendonitis and arthritis.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy at Orthopaedic & Spine Center is provided by the top orthopedic and pain doctors in Newport News, Drs. Sureja and McFarland. They have extensive experience with regenerative medicine including PRP therapy, make your appointment today!