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DISEASE AWARENESS PAGE FOR R3 STEM CELL – CARTILAGE DEFECTS
Cartilage is an integral part of the human body. It is a connective tissue that is found in different parts of the body, particularly between the joints. It is a hard tissue but it is much softer and flexible than the average human bone. Examples include knees, elbows, ankles, ears, and nose, etc.
As the name implies, a cartilage defect is damaged cartilage. The cause of this damage can be numerous including, but not limited to, injury, osteonecrosis, and osteochondritis. It is also important to note that oftentimes cartilage defects are confused with Arthritis. However, the two conditions are very different and thus have different treatments.
Cartilage defects are more commonly observed in the knees and are often the result of serious injuries or due to ligament tears such as ACL. It is reported that in the United States of America alone, 100,000 to 200,000 ACL cases are reported each year, primarily because of sports injuries. Furthermore, studies have also shown that females are at a two to ten times higher risk of contracting cartilage related defects as compared to men.
Though cartilage wears and tears over time and defects are found later on in a person’s life, cartilage damages are not limited to a particular age group. The condition can develop in people as young as 20 years to 30 years.
The most common symptoms of cartilage defects may include the following:
It is important to remember that the symptoms for cartilage defects may not become evident very quickly and are likely to worsen with time. Many patients fail to pay much attention to it when it first starts. Thus it is important to bear in mind that the sooner a doctor is consulted, the better it is for the patient.
The doctor is likely to perform a complete physical exam and go through the patient’s medical history. However, it is important to note that there are no blood tests that can be done to diagnose cartilage related defects.
However, there are a few ways to diagnose this condition. Bear in mind that the best diagnosis can be obtained via your doctor because it may vary from condition to condition.
If not treated timely, Cartilage defects can worsen causing you a lot of distress and pain.
For this reason, it is highly important that a doctor is consulted as soon as the symptoms start becoming evident. The earlier this condition is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat it.
There are a number of nonsurgical approaches that can be used to treat this problem. If the symptoms are present in the knee or elbow, then wearing a brace during the day and especially at night helps keep the area of concern straight. It can help protect the affected area from further damage by reducing the pressure. Doctors can also prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also suggested that affected limb should be kept elevated and ice packs should be used regularly to reduce swelling and pain.
If, however, the condition has worsened, the doctor might recommend surgery. Other treatments include arthroscopy that is a technique in which doctors put a tube into the joint space to check for defects and abnormalities. The detected irregularities are then repaired using the arthroscope. Another technique is known as arthrocentesis in which a needle is inserted in the area of concern to remove some joint fluid. It helps relieve immediate pressure, swelling, and pain. For a cartilage defect in knee, Microfracture can also be performed. In this treatment, the solid outer layer of the bone is drilled only to expose the inner layers of the bone where marrow cells are. Marrow cells will then reach the affected area and fill in for the gap of cartilage.
According to the severity and specificity of your condition, the doctor can treat you with a Cartilage transfer, taking cartilage from comparatively healthy parts of the joint to the damaged areas, or cartilage implantation, growing cartilage cells in a laboratory and then implanting them in the defected joint.
Whatever treatment you receive will be according to the severity of your condition but you must see a doctor for consultation as soon as you start experiencing the symptoms or get this diagnosed.
R3 Stem Cell has achieved Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval for the investigation of regenerative therapies for orthopedic conditions, such as Cartilage Defects. The specifics of the study can be seen here on ClinicalTrials.gov:
Here are answers to many of the frequently asked questions we receive.
Arthritis can be classified into several types. Osteoarthritis is caused by the normal aging process of the body, or could be a result of injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of arthritis, happens due to autoimmune problems, wherein the body’s own immune system attacks healthy cells of the body. Infectious arthritis is caused by an infection to the joint. Patients with psoriasis may be affected by Psoriatic arthritis. Finally, excessive uric acid in the body can cause Gout, an arthritis that often starts at the toe.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.
How common is it and who is at risk?
An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.
Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.
Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.
While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.
How common is it and who is at risk?
An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.
Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.
Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.
While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis within kids. It is characterized by persistent pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The disease occurs when the body’s own tissues are attacked by its cells. In some cases, it can create more serious complications such as growth problems and eye inflammation.
It is the most common form of arthritis diagnosed in children under the age of sixteen. Certain gene mutations can make the body more vulnerable to the external environment, which can result in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis occurring. Although reasons are unknown, girls are more susceptible to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis than boys.
Commonplace symptoms include joint pain or a limp caused by the pain, swelling of joints and stiffness of the joints that results in clumsiness by the child. In some cases, the disease can manifest as high fever and rashes.
Diagnosis for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is difficult as the pain and swelling in the joints could be attributed to a number of diseases. Quite a few blood tests are conducted to determine the status of markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, and quantity of anti-nuclear bodies, among others. However, many children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis show no abnormalities in these tests.
The treatment for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is geared towards making sure the child can maintain a regular level of physical activity. This can include different types of medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in more severe cases. Biologic agents may be recommended to help prevent joint damage. Physical therapy can also help the child maintain a full range of motion with or without joint supports or splints based on the situation. Surgery is the most extreme option used to improve the position of the affected joint.
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