Undergoing a surgical intervention is the first step on what is often a long road to full recovery. In the weeks and months that follow, patients must endure prolonged periods of discomfort and tedious physical therapy sessions. While there is no way to eliminate the recovery process, stem cells may help expedite healing.
When orthopedic surgery is supplemented by an advanced stem cell therapy protocol, patients may find the road to recovery a little shorter. They can potentially regain their strength and mobility more rapidly. Stem cell therapy can be an integral part of a broader post-surgery plan.
Most Common Sources of Stem Cells
The stem cells used for post-surgical intervention can be harvested from a variety of sources. The most common of these include:
Bone Marrow Aspirate: Autologous adult stem cells can be harvested from the patient’s bone marrow. Patients are given a local anesthetic before harvesting bone marrow aspirate.
Adipose (fat) Tissue: Another autologous stem cell option is to harvest adipose (fat) tissue via a mini-liposuction. Adipose tissue has high concentrations of stem cells.
Umbilical Cord Derived (Wharton’s Jelly): This allogeneic option is sourced from healthy c-section births from donor mothers who have gone through a stringent screening and testing process per FDA guidelines. This is the substance that lines the interior of the umbilical cord.
Since Wharton’s Jelly is not harvested from the patient, it can be a preferred option as a post-surgical stem cell therapy. Using this method allows physicians to avoid putting any additional strain on a patient’s body in the days following orthopedic surgery.
How Do Stem Cells Expedite Surgical Recovery?
Stem cells are the raw building blocks that your body uses to create all sorts of specialized cells. These daughter cells facilitate the natural healing and rebuilding process, which are essential when recovering from orthopedic surgery or an injury. After stem cells are harvested, they are concentrated in a laboratory setting.
Harvested stem cells are administered to you in one of several ways. The most common method is to inject them near the specific site of an injury. An alternative option is to administer the stem cells systemically through an IV.
After receiving stem cell therapy, many patients report shorter recovery times when compared to people that did not receive the treatment. Stem cell therapy research is still in its infancy. However, it is an extremely safe treatment that offers substantial potential benefits to patients.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for Orthopedic also known as Orthopedic Stem cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
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