by Mark Walter, M.D.   

Excitement is mounting for stem cell orthopedics and the potential of this treatment. This safe, minimally invasive modality uses a patient’s own stem cells and growth factors (from fat and blood) to heal many painful and troublesome orthopedic problems. The treatment takes about three or four hours start to finish, with minimal downtime.  

Stem cell orthopedics can facilitate major improvements in at least 80 percent of orthopedic ailments, and can help many patients avoid the risk of invasive surgeries. In addition, the benefits can be long-lasting. If you have a persistent or serious orthopedic problem, the long-term benefits of this procedure may be well worth your investment (please note: stem cell treatments are not covered by health insurance at this point in time).  

There is one caveat, though: Results can be amazing, but these benefits are only achievable if you do the treatment correctly. The field of stem cell orthopedics has grown rapidly, and there is much misconception and misinformation. Also, many doctors attempting to perform these treatments lack the knowledge, training and experience in regenerative orthopedics to get optimal results.  

If someone has undergone a stem cell procedure, but had a poor outcome, the first question to ask is: Who performed it, and what type of stem cells were used? Certainly, when it comes to healing, poor biologic outcomes can occur, but far more common are issues stemming from poor diagnostic and injection technique, incorrect selection or preparation of the stem cells or regenerative solution, and failure to educate the patient properly for follow-up and rehab.  

There are three major determinants of the outcome of any stem cell orthopedic procedure. First, you need to make the correct diagnosis of the primary pain generators and inject them correctly. Good medicine starts with a precise diagnosis. For this, you need the right doctor with the right background and skill set. Regenerative orthopedics is a highly specialized field, and a totally different paradigm than conventional surgical orthopedics.  

Most pain actually comes from micro-tears in the attachments of ligaments, tendons and joint capsules. Unfortunately, MRI and ultrasound are not sensitive enough to make these distinctions, and can often miss the true root cause of pain.  

The only way to make a precise diagnosis—and to prioritize the pain generators in any given patient—is with a technique called palpation interrogation. If a doctor palpates a certain site on a specific structure, and it reproduces the pain, this is called the “jump sign.” The more pronounced the jump sign, the more important that structure is to the overall pain picture, and the more crucial it becomes to address that exact spot with injections.  

Second, you need to use the right kind of stem cells and prepare them correctly. Freshly prepared, DNA-matched, autologous stem cells are far more effective than umbilical tissue from a donor or any other type of stem cell preparation.  

Finally, you need the right follow-up and rehab program to give the stem cells an optimal healing environment. If a patient is slow to respond or fails to progress after six to eight weeks, one or two PRP boosters can often help reignite the stem cells. It's also important to maintain an active rehab program where the patients can learn how to move and use the areas involved, without overloading the attachments.  

Most patients should start with a stem cell and PRP combination for all affected regions. This offers the best chance for a rapid and substantial improvement. If you optimize all of the above factors in treatment, your chances of success are 80 to 85 percent for a great, long-term result. The goal of stem cell orthopedics is to relieve pain and restore functionality. Welcome to the medicine of the future. In the end, it’s all about quality of life!  

Mark Walter MD has pioneered the field of regenerative orthopedics for the last 22 years, and is considered one of the top specialists in Florida. He just released his new book Stem Cell Orthopedics, available on Amazon. For additional information, to schedule a consultation or reserve a seat at a free monthly seminar, please call Dr. Walter’s office in Sarasota at 941-955-4325, text the Stem Cell Hotline at 941-376-2100 or visit us at RegenOrtho.com.