Someday, if people live to age 120, we need joint preservation solutions for individuals ages 30 to 60 and older. A team of Mayo Clinic orthopedic and regenerative medicine researchers has continued development and testing of a knee joint restoration procedure, called recycled cartilage auto/allo implantation (RECLAIM). I brought RECLAIM with me from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, where we developed this procedure and called it IMPACT.
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. Whether it’s due to injury, arthritis, or overuse, finding relief from knee pain is essential for maintaining an active lifestyle. Fortunately, there are new treatment options available that can help alleviate knee pain and improve mobility.
Not every type of knee pain is managed with surgery, and determining the most appropriate treatment can be complex. Determining the best surgical procedure to manage each individual patient’s case can also be a complex decision. Prescription-strength options may include NSAIDs such as Celebrex and Meloxicam. Doctors may prescribe these drugs on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of arthritis symptoms, as stronger medications carry a risk of side effects.
This acceleration was primarily driven by key brain regions involved in cognitive processing, including hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex, and was correlated with longitudinal memory decline and dementia risk. The acceleration in brain aging was largely driven by the hippocampus and predicted memory decline and incident dementia during follow-up. Researchers identified a gene highly expressed in glial cells as a possible genetic factor for accelerated brain aging. The consequences of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) may extend well beyond physical discomfort, potentially leading to faster aging of the brain, new research showed.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Nearly 17 per cent of hospital procedures were day surgeries in British Columbia between 2021 and 2022, compared to just one per cent in 2018, but that could be improved further, he said. The publicly reportable wait-time benchmarks were set by the country’s health ministers in 2004 for joint replacements, sight restoration, cancer treatment, cardiac care and diagnostic imaging. Even though there are no established benchmarks for breast, bladder, colorectal and lung cancer surgery, the report notes that median wait times for those procedures increased by two to four days, compared to 2019.
One of the latest developments in treating knee pain is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. This innovative treatment involves injecting a concentrated solution of platelets from the patient’s own blood into the knee joint. These platelets contain growth factors that promote tissue repair and regeneration, helping to reduce inflammation and pain in the knee.
A depiction of the steps in the process of recycled cartilage auto/allo implantation (RECLAIM) knee cartilage regeneration.
Results from the study showed that Link_TSG6 suppresses the production of enzymes implicated in cartilage damage—a hallmark of OA. Furthermore, administration of Link_TSG6 reduced cartilage breakdown, underpinning its potential as a DMOAD, and also reduced touch-evoked pain behavior supporting a possible analgesic effect. When a knee replacement is performed, the bone and cartilage on the end of the thigh bone (femur) and top of the shin bone (tibia) are removed. This is performed using precise instruments to create surfaces that can accommodate the implant perfectly. A metal-and-plastic knee replacement implant is then placed to function as a new knee joint. Partial knee replacements are becoming more common as robotic-assisted surgery has also become more prevalent.
Benefits of PRP Therapy for Knee Pain:
- Minimally invasive procedure
- No risk of allergic reaction
- Potential for long-lasting pain relief
- Faster recovery compared to surgery
Stem Cell Therapy
Another cutting-edge treatment for knee pain is stem cell therapy. This procedure involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s own bone marrow or fat tissue and injecting them into the damaged knee joint. The stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various types of cells, including cartilage cells, which can help repair damaged tissues in the knee.
FAQs about Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Pain:
- Is stem cell therapy safe?
- How long does it take to see results?
- Are there any side effects?
By exploring these new treatment options for knee pain, patients can find relief and improve their quality of life without resorting to invasive surgery or relying solely on pain medications. Consult with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition.
