Regenerative Medicine In Orthopedics: Harnessing Your Body’s Healing Power

The Power Of Regenerative Medicine

An orthopedist is a medical professional that works with any injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. From sprains and broken bones to tears like ACL injuries, this specialist is usually the main individual providing care. Historically, physical damage would be treated with traditional methods such as immobilization, compression, or even surgery in more severe cases. However, the recovery period could be drawn out with more serious situations requiring a full year to regain complete mobility. These days, scientific innovations are creating alternative treatment methods that are just as effective as the old ways. As a result, many orthopedists are recommending regenerative medicine to treat musculoskeletal injuries.

Defining regenerative medicine

The term regenerative medicine can refer to a wide range of therapies that can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional methods. For example, ACL tears often require surgery and sometimes involve tissue grafts to repair the damaged ligaments. However, tissue rejection and the risk of future damage or developing osteoarthritis were a major concern. By contrast, regenerative repair leverages self-healing by tapping into the body’s ability to bolster repairs. Stem cells derived from various source materials are the preferred choice because of durability.

The most common option

Since stem cell therapy is still new, most orthopedists will recommend platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) injections as the preferred option for encouraging the body to self-heal. The method is incredibly popular because PRP can be applied in various ways. While the injections can work independently for minor injuries, more severe musculoskeletal damage is usually treated with a hybrid plan that incorporates injections as a post-surgical solution to boost wound healing during recovery.

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is typically categorized as an outpatient procedure, so most people can go home the same day. The process involves using the body’s own materials to boost healing. Specifically, blood is drawn from a patient and then placed into a centrifuge, which spins the sample at a high rate of speed to separate the variougs components. Once finished, the plasma, where platelets are found, is separated from the red blood cells that create the blood’s color. The PRP specimen is injected back into the patient. The injection site is typically where the injury or surgical site is located. Plasma and platelets help speed blood clotting and wound healing, which are 2 essential processes for recovery.

A multi-pronged approach

Stem cell treatments are showing promising results for tissue regeneration in clinical trials, even if wide-scale usage is still many years away. Meanwhile, PRP is a proven therapy that can be used for both minor and major injuries. Still, most orthopedists will recommend combining any regenerative treatment with proven methods like physical therapy (PT) for the best chances of success. Going to PT can help patients learn how to move correctly and maintain proper form when engaged in more strenuous activities that might have led to the original injury. Yet, regenerative medicines can offer faster treatment solutions, ensuring that affected patients return to everyday life faster.