Trauma Accelerates Arthritis, Is Surgery a Form of Trauma?
Trauma has long been known to be a risk factor for the development of arthritis later in life. This has been well documented in the animal experimental model.
Knee surgery has a long history of evolution as it became well documented the effects of open knee surgery and complete meniscetomy accelerated arthritis decades ago. More recently, many studies looking into even arthroscopic partial knee meniscetomy raises the risk of early arthritis development.
More recent studies involving arthroscopic shoulder rotator cuff surgery and hip Labral surgery are reflecting similar findings. Why? Because the answer to the question “is surgery a form of trauma to the joint?” is “yes.”
Regenerative Medicine alters this paradigm, by investigating and harnessing the innate healing capacity of the body. The body wants to be in a state of homeostasis. That means under normal circumstances the body is constantly undergoing change tissues are turned over and replaced at a steady state to maintain this homeostasis. When breakdown exceeds repair degeneration or catabolism occurs.
Joints are mostly avascular or lack blood supply nutrition to fortify repair can be faulty as nutrients and essential repair cells have to diffuse through the synovium. This is why are bodies are less effective in repairing joints as they are a vascular rich tissue like skin and muscle.
There are stem cells present in the joint, however with aging, their numbers decrease, and in the presence of constant inflammation from a degenerating joint, the arthritis cascade continues to move progressively forward with time. Prescription medications do not alter this paradigm at all, and surprisingly research suggests it may actually help propel the degenerative arthritis cascade.
What else can be done? Regenerative Medicine techniques like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) may provide important growth factors when injected into the joint. These growth factors may stimulate endogenous intrarticular stem cells or augment stem cells that are harvested from the patient’s Adipose (Fat) tissue or Bone Marrow. Stem cells have been shown in the animal model and various worldwide studies in humans to be safe and has the capacity to regenerate.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine Specialist in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, notes the complexity of understanding regenerative capacity versus symptom improvement may be difficult for some to understand. Stem cell science is still uncovering new secrets, our understanding of stem cells is far greater today than only five years ago. Dr. Lox points out that humans unlike laboratory animals live and eat entirely differently from one another, exercise, overall health, age, and weight all play roles in dealing with humans compared to laboratory animals. To put it another way Dr. Lox states, Regenerative Medicine is like other medical fields and there is no cookie cutter approach to stem cells or Regenerative Medicine. Having an experienced Sports and Regenerative Specialist in your corner to fully evaluate your individual needs, goals, desires, and potential problems is an extremely important consideration in selecting a physician to treat your problem or sports injury with Regenerative Medicine therapies.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, serves patients in the greater Tampa Bay area, including, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, New Port Richey, Sarasota, Orlando and Spring Hill. He has been pleased to accommodate the needs of patients throughout Florida, the United States, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe, as well. Located in the 33765 area, our office can be reached at (727) 462-5582.
