Orthobiologics implies using your own body’s healing mechanisms to treat arthritis or injuries in various parts of the body. The commonly used Orthobiologic treatments are PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections, plasma concentrate containing A2M (Alpha 2 Macroglobulin), and BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) injection that contains some mesenchymal stem cells.
Doctors utilize platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for a multitude of reasons. Researchers theorize that by injecting areas of inflammation or tissue damage with high concentrations of platelets, it can encourage wounds to heal. It works by taking damaged cells and mixing them into a concentrated mixture of your own blood to stimulate healing and target stubborn injuries. This therapy is used to help reduce inflammation, too.
First, a sample of blood will be taken from the patient and put into a specialized device that will spin at a very high rate of speed. While spinning at high speed, the platelets become separated from the other components in the blood. The concentration of platelets is then taken and injected into a specific area of the patient that needs treatment.
Healing – PRP therapy was first used on patients healing after jaw and plastic surgeries. Now, it can be used to promote healing in patients who suffer injuries to their tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Inflammation Reduction – PRP therapy can help to reduce inflammation because it can target joints that have become painful and stiff. It is commonly used in treating osteoarthritis of the knee and shoulder and tendonitis of the rotator cuff. Elbow or hip.
Most people will not feel any side effects from PRP therapy. Although, some people may feel mild nausea and dizziness after the blood draw. Most people can resume their normal activities almost immediately after having a PRP injection.
A2M is a protein that is made by liver and found in your blood. The A2M found naturally in your blood inhibits three major proteins – Cytokines, Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP’s), and ADAMTS Degradation Proteases that break down your cartilage, causing Osteoarthritis (OA). The protective characteristics of A2M allows this vital protein as the human body’s own defense against Osteoarthritis (OA).
A2M is a Broad-Spectrum Multi-Purpose Protease Inhibitor that captures and inactivates the bad chemicals damaging your joints and causing pain. Once these bad chemicals are trapped by the A2M, the body eliminates them through natural mechanisms.
A significant research study out of Brown University, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, demonstrated that concentration of intra-articular A2M is insufficient for joint protection and a supplemental intra-articular injection of A2M provides chondral protection in post-traumatic OA by stopping the progression of Osteoarthritis (OA)
The most common use is for managing osteoarthritic pain in knee and shoulder. It is also being used to slow down progression of post traumatic osteoarthritis after ACL and meniscal surgery.
Most of so called stem cell treatments are therapies that involve aspirating bone marrow that has cells, concentrating it and injecting it into the diseased area. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in many tissues. However, the ones in bone marrow are potent and easy to harvest. The human body uses stem cells to replace cells when they are injured or damaged by disease and to help heal the damaged tissue in which they are located.
The procedure involves extracting the bone marrow containing MSCs through a process called aspiration. During this part of the procedure, a special needle is used to remove the MSCs. The MSCs are then concentrated to form bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) which is injected into the area of disease or injury. All of this is done during the one procedure visit.
In certain cases, a combination of surgery and BMAC therapy may be used. For example, a large rotator cuff tear may be treated with surgery and then BMAC to help decrease postoperative pain and promote healing.
Expected results
Our experience is that most patients will have significant relief of pain around 1-2 months post injection. They will often continue to improve for the first 3-6 months after the stem cell procedure. Like any procedure, it does not work for everyone, and some people will not see any significant benefit. This is still a very new treatment, and there have not been a lot of long-term outcomes studies or data yet. However, early results are very encouraging.
Studies suggest an improvement rate as high as 70-80%, though some arthritic joints, like the hip and ankle, do not respond as well as the knee and shoulder. Results of treatment do vary. Some patients experience complete relief of their pain. Others see some improvement while a few may not report any benefit at all. In the case of tendon and ligament injuries the improved results are likely to be permanent. In the case of joint arthritis, how long the treatment benefit lasts may depend on the severity of the condition. Mild arthritis may not need another round of treatments. More advanced arthritis, on the other hand, may require a repeat course of treatment.
BMAC based stem cell treatments are currently not covered by any of the insurance plans including Medicare. The cost of your treatment depends on the complexity of the condition, number of areas to be injected. Payment plans are available.
3735 Easton-Nazareth Hwy. Suite 302A
Easton, PA 18045-8339
Phone: (610) 515-9994
Fax: (610) 515-9997
Situated in Easton, PA, Sachdev Orthopaedics is conveniently located to serve patients in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.
