How Regenerative Medicine is Changing Treatments for Osteoarthritis

In the United States, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent joint disorder, and the Greater Atlanta area is no different. Around 50 percent of individuals are likely to be diagnosed with arthritis at some point in their lifetimes, and this risk increases even more for those who are overweight or obese.

This disorder can cause joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, and can have a huge negative impact on quality of life. Regenerative medicine treatments provide an alternative to surgical procedures, and PRP and mesenchymal stem cells are two of the leading options. Both treatments are performed in-house under the supervision of specialist Dr. Garten.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Dr. Garten explains Osteoarthritis as followed: “a disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage located on the ends of the bones.” This cartilage is known as hyaline cartilage, which is slick like ice and helps to keep joints moving smoothly and easily. Over time, this cartilage can begin to wear down, becoming rougher and inhibiting joint movement.

Arthritis can develop in a number of joints all over the body, the most common being the hands, neck, hips, knees, and spine. When these joints don’t move as smoothly, it can cause irritation in the joint, resulting in swelling and tenderness in the area. The swelling can also decrease range of motion, which lowers functionality as well.

Cartilage has a difficult time healing because it has very limited blood flow. Because of this, it is difficult to slow down or reverse arthritis, so joint replacement therapy is often utilized. However, regenerative medicine treatments may be able to help restore cartilage tissue, bringing the original joint back to health and maintaining its functionality.

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, is derived from a sample of a patient’s own blood. A portion of this sample that contains a high proportion of platelets and growth factors is isolated from the sample, and it is then injected into the injury site.

Platelet rich plasma is packed with growth factors, which help to reduce swelling and create new blood vessels. Studies have shown that PRP injections can significantly improve pain levels and prevent scar tissue from forming, maintaining the strength, flexibility, and function of the original tendons.

What are Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that utilizes cells extracted directly from a person’s own bone marrow or adipose tissue. These cells have the ability to differentiate into other cells, including osteoblasts, which create bone; chondroblasts, which create cartilage; fibroblasts, which create fibrous tissues; muscle cells; and adipose cells.

These cells are generally extracted from the bone marrow using a needle that is inserted into the hip bone or through a liposuction procedure. Once these cells have been extracted, the sample is placed in a centrifuge to separate the various components. Then, the layer containing the stem cells is isolated, and injected into the site of injury to promote healing.

The ability of these cells to differentiate presents them as a very promising option in the field of regenerative medicine. Stem cells have been widely tested using animal models, and studies have shown that they are able to successfully regrow cartilage tissue.

Stem cells have also been tested using human subjects. One woman was experiencing arthritis in her hip, and she was not able to relieve the pain using NSAIDs. She reported her pain level as a seven at resting and a nine while walking. She decided to try stem cell therapy, and received an injection.

Four weeks afterwards, her pain rating had lowered to a four, and after 12 weeks, her pain rating was reduced to a two, showing an overall reduction of more than 70 percent. Her range of motion also improved significantly with flexion, abduction, and adduction. Similar results have also been seen in other cases of arthritis in both the hip and knee. Further studies have shown the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on treating arthritis in the ankles.

The Future of Regenerative Therapies

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease, and having to address the problem with surgical procedures is not in every patient’s best interest. The therapy options provided by PRP and mesenchymal stem cells offer a very promising, non-surgical, and minimally-invasive treatment alternative.

These methods have been shown to help restore and produce new cartilage tissue in the affected area, providing increased functionality in the joint. They also help to reduce scar tissue buildup and prevent inflammation from occurring, which can improve joint mobility, reduce tenderness, and lower overall pain levels.

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