Edited by Dr. Corrado Bait - Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology
They sound a bit like a magic formula, "stem cells and growth factors" and, without even knowing what they are, the miracle is expected: cartilages that regenerate, ligaments and tendons that reconstitute, joints that return to work without problems. However effective and promising, these treatments are not able to solve everything. And, first of all, they are not the same thing.
"The treatment with stem cells is shorter, cheaper and above all more effective - explains Bait -, because unlike what occurs with in vitro cultivation and replanting, with this technique it is possible to reconstruct, at least in part and with the necessary precautions, also the underlying bone tissue ". However, the cells need to be "conveyed" to the area to be treated through a solid support that acts as a scaffold for growth. After treatment with MSCs, the patient is moved immediately, to model the "scaffold" obtained and reduce the possibility of intra-articular adhesions. In any case, however, the times are not short: the low impact sports activity can be resumed after about 4 months, while for running, football and tennis you have to wait almost a year.
Less striking but wider is the possibility of using platelet growth factors, the so-called PRP, derived from the patient's own blood. Platelets are in fact obtained from autologous donations (in practice the patient donates blood to himself) and concentrated through low-speed centrifugation methods. «The growth factors - explains Bait - intervene in stimulating the regeneration of injured tissues. As the name suggests, there are more than one and each growth factor acts on a specific cell line, producing an anti-inflammatory and reparative process in the metabolism of the treated tissue. For this reason, growth factors are used in cartilage, tendon, ligament and muscle lesions ». After concentrating the platelets, they are injected into the affected area of the body. Usually three infiltrations are expected, 15 days apart, but already from the second the overall situation is decidedly improved.
Of course, these methods are strongly influenced by the patient's biology, in fact age plays a fundamental role in the ability of cells to implement reparative processes. We cannot expect the same results at 20 and 40 years, as always the correct indications are always the best care.
Dr. Corrado Bait
Responsible Help
Operative Unit of Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology
Humanitas Research Hospital
Rozzano (MI)
www.corradobait.com - [email protected]
