The last option anyone should consider for treating a meniscus injury is the surgical removal of all or some of this important structure. In the majority of cases, regenerative stem cell therapy or platelet procedures (along with physical therapy) are a better option.
Meniscus Procedure Outcome Data
Types of Meniscus Tears We Treat
Your Meniscus Tear & Why Regenexx Procedures Are Likely Your Best Option
What is the Meniscus?
The Meniscus is both the shock absorber of the knee joint and the spacer that protects the cartilage which covers the top of the femur and the tibia bone. It does this by distributing the force equally across the joint. The meniscus is made of living fibro-cartilage tissue. Each knee has two menisci, a medial meniscus which is closer to the inside of the body, and a lateral meniscus which is closer to the outside of the body. The medial meniscus is more easily injured than the lateral one for biomechanical reasons.
Why Stem Cell Therapy May Be Your Best Option
Knee meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries we treat. Stem Cell treatment of meniscus tears offers patients a minimally invasive same-day injection procedure that may help heal the injured tissue and allow the individual to avoid the painful and lengthy recovery that typically follows surgery, as well as the long term impact to the knee as a result of removing sections of meniscus. Regenexx uses the healing power of your own stem cells and platelets to help heal this tissue, rather than remove it.
Why Not Fix the Meniscus Surgically?
More than 90% of the time meniscus surgery does not “repair” the meniscus, but rather removes the torn pieces. Given its shock absorbing function, less shock absorber means more shock gets delivered to the cartilage and bone. After a while, this living tissue reacts and cartilage is lost and the knee begins to form new bone spurs. Studies have calculated increased force versus the amount of meniscus removed and its profound negative consequences to the long term function and stability of the knee. In addition, papers have confirmed that removing parts of the meniscus results in knee arthritis. Most remarkably, recent research has shown that meniscus surgery, on average, is no more effective than physical therapy in its positive effects, however physical therapy has no negative impact. Despite this, millions of meniscectomies are still performed every year.
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How Regenexx Procedures Work

Regenexx-SD
Bone Marrow Concentrate
Regenexx-SD is Bone Marrow Concentrate, which contains stem cells. These repair cells from your own body live inside all of us in various tissues, poised to leap into action to repair damage as it occurs. As we age or have big injuries, we may not be able to recruit enough of these cells to the site to fully repair the area. The Regenexx-SD Procedure helps overcome this problem by harvesting Bone Marrow from an area of the back of the hip that contains a dense population of these important cells and then concentrating those cells before precisely injecting them into the injured area using advanced imaging guidance. The goal of the procedure is to reduce pain and improve function by promoting the body's own ability to heal naturally. This Patented Bone Marrow Concentrate Protocol can be used for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Your Regenexx doctor will evaluate your condition and your imaging to determine whether a bone marrow concentrate or platelet-based treatment is the best option for your orthopedic condition.

Regenexx SCP
Super Concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma & Platelet Lysate Procedures
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet Lysate are Platelet procedures that contain healing growth factors from your own blood that promote your body’s natural ability to repair itself. The use of PRP to treat joint, tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries is becoming well known, thanks to exposure from professional athletes. Platelet injections have a stimulating effect on the repair cells within the targeted area, making those cells work harder to perform their natural job of healing the body. Like all Regenexx procedures, Regenexx SCP procedures are performed with high-level imaging guidance to ensure the most accurate placements of cells into the desired area. Our Advanced Platelet Procedures are more concentrated and purer than PRP created by the automated machines used at most regenerative medicine clinics, increasing its ability to stimulate the body's natural healing response. Platelet procedures are commonly used for soft tissue injuries, mild arthritis, spine conditions, and around nerves.