Regenerative medicine is revolutionizing how we approach musculoskeletal health. This cutting-edge field, backed by leading institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and the Hospital for Special Surgery, has opened the door to innovative treatments using orthobiologics—therapies derived from your body’s own biological materials to heal and restore orthopedic conditions.
Cortisone... this subject has been a sore spot for me for many years. It is one that I feel passionately about as it directly opposes everything I believe and everything I know about medicine.
In a recent article for Ask the Experts, Dr. Minotti discusses the most common questions from patients about Regenerative Orthopedics. As a young physician, Dr. Minotti sought more effective methods to treat patients with conditions that were not responding to traditional treatments. Discovering the developing field of Regenerative Medicine, he became a pioneer in these innovative procedures.
Meniscus tears are one of the most common types of knee injuries. When left untreated, the tear may increase, making the knee become susceptible to arthritis.
The field of regenerative medicine is complex. Patients often believe that the treatment they receive at one clinic is the same as another, that the latte at this Starbucks is the same as the latte at another.
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.
Traditional treatments for knee pain have often been NSAIDs or surgery. NSAIDs reduce inflammation, therefore reducing pain. Unfortunately, inflammation is our body’s natural method of healing. Millions of tiny cells rush to the injury to perform their individual role in the healing process. So, when inflammation stops, healing stops also. Surgery is often not necessary. 86% of musculoskeletal injuries can be effectively treated without surgery. Discover your options.
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.
Research is beginning to dispel some of the mysteries surrounding the human body, particularly how the body regenerates tissue. In the early 1990s, scientists discovered small sections of RNA called microRNA or miRNA. This discovery allowed them to see more precisely how DNA functions in our bodies and the role these tiny molecules play in the process of regeneration of tissue.
The complex structure of ligaments and tendons that support our joints provides stability. They are composed of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. Their tough, collagenous structure give the joint strength. This structure, however, also causes these tissues to have poor blood supply, making the joint prone to chronic conditions.
Every time you move, your muscles contract and relax. This process only takes a few seconds, but it is actually a quite complex process.