Stem Cell & PRP Treatments for Knee Meniscus Tears

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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.

It is very common to have meniscus tears appear on MRI, especially as we age, but oftentimes these tears are not actually the source of the patient’s knee pain. Far too many meniscus surgeries are performed every year, with many published studies concluding that meniscus surgeries may be no more effective than physical therapy or no surgery at all. Meniscus tears are one of the most common injuries we treat. We have seen good results with both our Regenexx Stem Cell Procedure and Regenexx Super Concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma to help heal these injuries, rather than removing sections of this important structure through a surgical procedure. Our patients can return to their daily activities almost immediately and they avoid the lengthy and painful rehabilitation that typically follows surgery. They also avoid the acceleration of knee degeneration that results from removing this important knee structure.

Meniscus Procedure Outcome Data

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Types of Meniscus Tears We Treat

The Meniscus is the most commonly injured part of the knee. In young people a meniscus tear is usually caused by a traumatic twisting injury. In older people, in addition to traumatic injury, tears are often caused by weakness of the meniscus caused by degenerative changes in the knee joint. Meniscus tears are often described by their position: anterior or posterior, which meniscus: medial or lateral and the type of tear. Here are some examples… A Medial Meniscus Tear describes a tear on medial meniscus often caused traumatically by sudden changes of direction and force in sports like football, soccer, basketball, volleyball and skiing. They can also be caused by repetitive use injuries like distance running and cycling and degenerative changes to the knee in older patients. Medial Meniscus Tears respond very well to Stem Cell Therapy. Bucket Handle Meniscus Tear: The entire inner rim of the medial meniscus can be torn in what is called a bucket handle tear. These tears usually occur in an area of good blood supply in the meniscus. While these tears when caught very early are the one case that can be sutured, an injection of your own stem cells can accomplish the same thing without the risks and recovery time of surgery. Meniscus Flap Tear: The meniscus can also have a flap tear from the inner rim. These tears usually involve a small percentage of the meniscus and do not have the ability to heal on their own because they occur in an area that does not have good blood supply. Flap tears are the type most commonly “trimmed” or “shaved”, (removed) leading to long term issues. BEWARE of any removal of meniscus tissue. Instead use your own stem cells to heal the tear. Complex Degenerative Meniscus Tears: Just like other tissues of the body, the tissue that forms the menisci weakens with age, making the menisci prone to degeneration and tearing with just minor injury or no particular injury at all. These tears of the meniscus are usually seen as a part of the overall condition of osteoarthritis of the knees in older adults and cause the menisci to fray and tear in multiple directions. Thankfully, in these cases, there are so many tears, most surgeons won’t even try to repair them surgically. While surgery won’t help, Regenexx can place your own stem cells and growth factors into the areas that need help with just injections.

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.

Required Viewing for those with a Meniscus Tear: Regenexx as an Alternative to Meniscus Surgery

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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.

Free Report: The Beginning of the End for Meniscus Surgery

Free Download

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I have Meniscus Surgery?” this report was created for you. We have been blogging for years about research study after research study showing that meniscus tear surgeries are largely ineffective and that most meniscus tears are like wrinkles in middle-age people (most everyone has them, regardless of whether they feel any pain in their knees). A new study is out that may just put the final nail in the coffin. Download this report and learn why meniscus surgery is unlikely to be your best treatment option.

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