Regenerative Orthopedics: Understanding the research
The decision of how to treat medical conditions can be overwhelming. Many patients research all potential options. Others follow their doctor’s advice. Some just go with standard procedures.
The decision of how to treat medical conditions can be overwhelming. Many patients research all potential options. Others follow their doctor’s advice. Some just go with standard procedures.
Healthy function of joints is controlled by “chondrocytes,” mesenchymal stem cells that regulate replacement of damaged cells. When the balance between the supply of new cells is adequate to maintain healthy function, the body is in homeostasis. However, imbalance in this function leads to degeneration of tissue, such as osteoarthritis.
Patients often ask, "What are these procedures and how do they work?" Orthobiologic procedures use substances naturally occurring in the body to accelerate repair of tissue.
Renaissance means rebirth or regeneration. Every few generations medicine takes a major turn. We’re at one of those junctures now with regenerative medicine — where healing is triggered from within the human body. It’s bringing a whole new universe to how physicians provide care.
The majority of individuals (about 65%) experience some form of low back pain at some point in their lives, making this condition second only to upper respiratory illness as a cause for visiting a physician.1,2The low back is a complex network of spinal muscles, nerves, bones, discs and tendons in the lumbar spine that move together interdependently. Keeping this system mechanically aligned and held snuggly together allows for healthy function and pain-free movement. 3