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Stem Cell Therapy for the Knee

 

For many people with debilitating knee pain, treatment options are limited. A new, cutting-edge therapy involves the injection of stem cells into the damaged or injured knee joint.

How does stem cell therapy work?

Stem cell therapy takes advantage of the body’s own natural ability to repair itself. The physician injects stem cells from bone marrow, amniotic fluid, or adipose tissue into your body. These cells have potent anti-inflammatory properties, similar to corticosteroids. However, stem cells have many more benefits. Cortisone and other drugs provide only temporary relief of pain, whereas stem cells actually restore damaged, degenerated, and injured tissue and structures. The growth factors in stem cells help replace damaged cells. In addition, stem cells have hyaluronic acid, which will lubricate the knee joint, restoring mobility and easing pain.

What are the benefits of stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is proven effective and safe. Benefits include:

  • Stem cells contain no steroids. Instead, they rely on naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents like cytokines.
  • Stem cells contain growth factors, which are known to stimulate tissue growth.
  • There is no threat for patient rejection with stem cell therapy.
  • Stem cells have hyaluronic acid, which lubricates knee cartilage and promotes new cartilage growth.
  • Stem cells can be obtained from amniotic fluid, adipose tissue, and bone marrow.
Are stem cell injections safe?

Amniotic cell donors go through a strenuous screening process, which is monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). More than 10,000 stem cell injections have been performed with no report of adverse side effects or reactions.

What knee conditions are treated using stem cell therapy?

Conditions treated using stem cell injections include:

  • Baker’s cyst
  • Meniscus tear
  • Patellofemoral syndrome
  • Bursitis
  • Arthritis
  • Ligament tears
  • Tendon tears
  • Patellar tendonitis
Who is a candidate for stem cell therapy?

Patients with severe degenerative arthritis of the knee are not suitable candidates for stem cell therapy. However, patients with other knee conditions could benefit from these injections. Candidates are:

  • Anyone suffering from a knee joint, ligament, or tendon problem.
  • Patients with mild to moderate knee arthritis.
  • People with joint, tendon, and knee sporting injuries.
  • Anyone age 55 years and under who has a knee condition.
Does stem cell therapy work?

In a recent study, researchers studied 18 patients with knee osteoarthritis who received intraarticular injections of autologous adipose tissue derived MSCs. In phase one of the study, all of the patients received three doses: a low dose, a mid-dose, and a high dose. In phase two of the study, only 9 patients received the high dose regimen. Outcomes after 6 months were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index. Secondary outcomes involved various evaluations (arthroscopic, radiological, clinical, and histological).

In the study, no patients had treatment-related adverse events. In the high dose group, all patients had improved scores at 6 months after injection. In addition, the size of the cartilage defect decreased while the volume of the cartilage increased in the medial femoral and tibial condyles. When examined by arthroscopy, the size of the cartilage defect decreased. Overall, results showed that MSCs improve knee function and pain and also reduced cartilage defects when given in high doses.

Results

Jo CH, Lee YG, Shin WH, et al. (2014). Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a proof-of-concept clinical trial. Stem Cells, 32(5), 1254-1266.