Failed Knee Surgery and Regenerative Medicine
Treatment of failed knee surgery with Regenerative Medicine therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy are becoming increasing popular according to Dennis M. Lox, MD, an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine. Patients who have undergone knee surgery for torn meniscus and osteochondral defects and have not improved or gotten worse are dissatisfied with their outcome and desire alternative strategies to remain functional, have quality of life or remain active in sports.
Traditional knee meniscal surgery involves cutting portions of the meniscus out. This may or may not provide short term relief. Clinical studies have shown accelerated rates of degenerative arthritis following knee meniscal surgery.
Previous attempts to grow the patient’s own cartilage cells to greater numbers in the lab (autologous chondrocyte implantation or ACI) have shown poor results especially after age 50. Recent research reflects better understanding of the effects of increasing cell numbers in the laboratory setting. As cells continue to divide in culture to create greater numbers the cells age dramatically. A 50 year cartilage cell that has been expanded in culture may be worn and the equivalent of an 80 year old cell at the time of re-implantation. Not ideal. This has also been shown in trying to culture stem cells to greater numbers.
The effect of failed knee surgery with acceleration of degeneration arthritis, creates an environment in which the future is eventual knee replacement surgery. A prospect a lot of patients are trying to avoid, especially athletes.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, has incorporated Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy as alternatives to knee surgery, a treatment when knee surgery has failed, and to attempt to halt the degenerative spiral to avoid the prospect of future knee replacement.