The body contains trillions of cells. Stem cells stand out among cell cells because they are the only type of cell that replicates indefinitely and creates specialized cells that can repair damaged cells. Today, healthcare providers use stem cell treatments to control and sometimes cure blood cancers and blood disorders. Medical researchers believe that stem cells have the potential to treat and possibly cure many other serious diseases. Activities to fracture the collarbone (collarbone fracture) after total knee replacement Rotator cuff and shoulder conditioning program A safety guide for young athletes Using stem cells in orthopedics This has to do, in part, with the rapid evolution of understanding stem cell mechanisms, basically, how they work in specific orthopedic conditions.
The problem becomes even more confusing when the media describe the use of stem cells in treating high-profile athletes. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate (become several types of cells) and reproduce indefinitely. This illustration shows some of the types of cells that a stem cell can develop into, including bone and muscle cells. As many specialized cells mature, they lose their ability to replicate and heal tissue in people with certain diseases.
However, since stem cells can retain this ability to replicate and heal even as they mature, it is believed that they could regenerate damaged tissue. Stem cells that could regenerate the normal cartilage that covers the joint would be a far superior treatment than those currently available. It now appears that the potential benefit of implanting these cells comes from their ability to act as signaling cells. What does that mean? Instead of doing the heavy lifting and building new tissue on their own, stem cells release factors that stimulate existing stem cells in the body (in the specific area where the stem cells are injected) to build new tissue.
Therefore, it is the patient's own stem cells that ultimately create bone, cartilage, or other new tissues following the momentum and direction of the stem cells that have implanted in the body. Frequently Asked Questions on Orthobiology (Regenerative Medicine) These cells are considered to be safe for human use. However, these products must still meet basic safety standards, such as sterility, potency and the absence of contamination. The FDA has only approved some of these types of stem cell treatments.
They can be accessed as part of clinical research trials that test and develop safe and effective stem cell therapies. Ongoing clinical research trials aim to test and develop safe and effective stem cell therapies. Stem cell products that are not classified as HCT pose significantly greater risks. Because of increased risks, stem cell treatments that do not fall into the HCT category are strictly regulated.
The FDA has sent warning letters to several providers stating that the marketing of stem cell treatments from some providers that are not classified as HCT is dangerous and illegal. In its communications to patients, the FDA makes it clear that a patient who is a potential candidate for stem cell treatment must obtain detailed information from their doctor about the status of the treatment at the FDA and the associated risks. Patients who are considering stem cell treatment should carefully review with their doctor the available evidence about the effectiveness of the treatment and the risks involved. It's important to note that stem cell treatments are often not covered by insurance because of the limited evidence supporting them, so patients may have to pay out of pocket. AAOS does not endorse any treatment, procedure, product, or medical referenced in this document.
This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific orthopedic advice or assistance should consult their orthopedic surgeon or search for one in their area through the AAOS Find an Orthopedist program found at this website. Terms and Privacy Policy Link Policy (free to use) Content Licenses Advertising Find an FAAOS surgeon. Stem cells have great potential for research and medical treatments because they can help repair damaged tissues and organs in the body.
In fact, thousands of legitimate clinical trials are underway to explore its curative potential. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects our joints.
Stem cell therapy
can help repair damaged joint cartilage and reduce inflammation that occurs in and around the joint. Although the patient's own stem cells would be used, the contributions of the recipient pig, such as leukocytes and blood vessels, may still pose a risk of rejection. DMAE has been one of the main objectives of stem cell therapies, since the eye is easily accessible, well understood and protected from the immune system.Stem cell therapy can be very useful for managing long-term chronic conditions, including conditions that cause pain and other symptoms. FDA-approved stem cell therapies include those that target specific types of cancer, gum retraction, cartilage degeneration, and spinal muscular atrophy. In general, stem cell therapy is still at a very early stage and is certainly not a widely used treatment or a miracle cure for all disorders or conditions. Because stem cells that are specific to certain tissues cannot produce cells found in other tissues without careful manipulation in the laboratory, the same stem cell treatment is very unlikely to work for diseases that affect different tissues and organs in the body.
As it has been decades since the first stem cell lines were detected, it would be entirely plausible to expect that cures had already been developed. While the therapy can be used alone, it is often used in combination with other therapies for optimal effects. Any clinic that offers stem cell therapies not authorized by regulators sells unproven and potentially dangerous treatments. How and where cells are returned to the body is important, and some clinics inject cells in places where they are not normally present or belong.
