Regenerative medicine is revolutionizing the field of orthopedics. If you have arthritis pain or a ligament or tendon injury that hasn’t responded to traditional treatment options such as medication, physical therapy, or cortisone injections, then orthopedist Dr. Alan Dayan in Brooklyn, New York may recommend a regenerative procedure such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and/or stem cell therapy.
The body has amazing powers to heal itself, but sometimes it needs a boost. Regenerative medicine stimulates and accelerates the healing process without surgery. It is an effective non-surgical option for joint damage, chronic tendonitis, and sports injuries such as partial ligament or tendon tears.
Depending on your age, health, and condition, you may be a candidate for stem cell therapy, PRP therapy, or a combination of both. Learn more below.
PRP Therapy
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Platelets are cells in your blood that contain growth factors, which accelerate the healing process for soft tissue (tendon, ligament, cartilage) injuries.
Common conditions treated by PRP therapy include:
- Chronic tendonitis
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Knee meniscus injury
- Rotator cuff tendonitis and bursitis
When you undergo PRP therapy, we will draw a small amount of your own blood and spin in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. Dr. Dayan will then inject this solution of concentrated platelets directly into the treatment area to provide markedly more platelets and growth factors at the injury site, which in turn attracts the essential aid of stem cells. The goal of PRP therapy is to increase the rate of repair and regeneration of tissue so you heal faster.
We perform PRP therapy in our office under ultrasound guidance. The whole procedure, from blood draw to injection, takes less than an hour. For optimal results you may need up to 3 injections administered 2-4 weeks apart.
Stem Cell Therapy
In orthopedics, stem cells are being used to renew and repair diseased or damaged tissues. Stem cells are more potent than platelet-rich plasma and may be used to treat more severe orthopedic problems, such as advanced osteoarthritis.
Common conditions treated by stem cell therapy include:
- Osteoarthritis in a joint
- Osteochondral defect (damaged cartilage or bone within a joint)
- Partial muscle, tendon, or ligament tear
- Labral injuries of the shoulder and hip
Stem cells help the body heal after an orthopedic injury. While stem cells are present in each of us, they become less abundant as we age. To accelerate the healing process, Dr. Dayan can inject a concentrated amount of your stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), directly to the injured area.
Dr. Dayan will extract these stem cells from bone marrow in your pelvic bone and spin the aspirate in a centrifuge to prepare the bone marrow concentrate. Using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate placement, Dr. Dayan injects the concentrated stem cells into the area that needs healing.
If you’re seeking a non-surgical treatment option for arthritis pain or tendon, ligament, or cartilage injuries, Dr. Alan Dayan can let you know if regenerative procedures such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and/or stem cell therapy are right for you. Call our Brooklyn, New York orthopedic office at (718) 232-6348 to schedule an appointment or you can request one online.
