What Is Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy - An Overview

Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, is a branch of medical science that seeks to repair and replace damaged or diseased tissues and organs that can no longer be rehabilitated with conservative treatment (non-surgical options) or other known clinical treatments and procedures. It is a promising treatment option, but as this branch of medicine is still relatively new, many don’t fully understand its function and the benefits it can bring to people with incurable diseases. 

So what is regenerative medicine? What diseases can it treat, and how does it work? Below, we answer these questions and give you a working overview of regenerative stem cell therapy to better understand its uses and benefits. 

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary collaboration between biology, chemistry, medicine, genetics, and even engineering and robotics. Regenerative medicine research aims to find new solutions to some of the most challenging health and medical issues currently faced today.  

Even though many consider it radical, regenerative medicine is rooted in the body’s natural ability to heal and repair itself. The difference is that specialists in this field explore new approaches to encourage cellular healing and repair. What if we can find a way to accelerate natural healing? What if we can harness it to address medical conditions that are difficult to treat through conventional clinical methods? 

Medical researchers, doctors, and scientists working on regenerative medicine focus on these three areas:

1. Tissue Engineering - This treatment encourages tissue regeneration by implanting a biologically compatible “scaffolding” in the site where new tissue needs to grow.  
2. Medical Devices and Artificial Organs - Instead of transplanting an organ from a donor, specialists use engineered devices as short-term replacements or supplements to damaged organs. However, there are now cases wherein artificial organs are prescribed as long-term alternatives to organ transplantation.  
3. Cellular Therapies - A type of regenerative cellular therapy that uses stem cells to encourage regeneration in damaged tissues and organs.

Medical institutions around the world already offer these treatments. At the American Hip Institute, we offer stem cell therapy as one of our non-surgical procedures. Let’s explore this treatment further in the next section.

What Is Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive procedure that can be used to treat orthopedic conditions. It promotes faster healing and repair of diseased and damaged tissues by extracting a patient’s stem cells and injecting them into the diseased area of the body.

There are two types of stem cells:

1. Embryonic stem cells - derived from human embryos
2. Somatic stem cells - derived from adult patients

Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any cell in the body, while somatic stem cells differentiate into specific types of cells. Somatic stem cells extracted from the bone marrow, fat, or amniotic fluid, for example, can differentiate into bone tissue, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Hence, stem cells from these locations are used for regenerative orthopedic treatments.

The American Hip Institute performs stem cell treatment for patients suffering from chronic hip pain or injury who want to improve their quality of life. It is a good alternative to surgery because the postoperative discomfort and recovery period are much shorter than invasive surgical procedures. Stem cell therapy also spares patients from the complications that could result from invasive hip surgery, like clot formation, excessive bleeding, and damage to adjacent muscles.

Patients need to pass certain criteria before they may qualify for a stem cell procedure. So if you are considering regenerative cellular therapy for your hip problems, you must find qualified and experienced specialists like our orthopedic surgeons at the American Hip Institute. 

The Benefits of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Treatment

Researchers continue to study and develop different approaches to regenerative medicine. But despite its infancy, thousands of patients have already benefited from the existing treatments. In addition, many people on waiting lists for organ donations have taken advantage of tissue engineering and artificial organ implantation.  

Why do so many people trust regenerative medicine, particularly stem cell treatment? 

These benefits prove to play a significant role:

• Stem cell treatment promotes natural cellular regeneration.
• There is a low risk of rejection because the patient’s own stem cells are used.
• It is an alternative for people who experience debilitating side effects from conventional medical treatments.
• It allows patients to avoid the complications associated with invasive surgery.
• Research shows that it can treat severe injuries and diseased tissues that cannot be repaired through conventional medicine.

Consult American Hip Institute for Non-Invasive, Regenerative Hip Treatment

Orthopedic treatments start with a conservative plan: at-home remedies, over-the-counter medicine, and rest are usually enough to address minor hip issues. However, medical specialists recommend hip surgery when the condition is severe, and these methods prove ineffective. However, if you are apprehensive about the risks of surgery, you may opt for non-invasive procedures instead.

Stem cell treatment is promising because it doesn’t rely on potent medicines with terrible side effects, nor does it have a recovery period that could span weeks, even months. In addition, when performed by licensed and experienced surgeons, stem cell treatment can produce great results for patients with hip injuries or complications.
For more information about stem cell treatment, our specialists at the American Hip Institute can tell you more about what regenerative medicine is and how stem cell therapy works. Request an appointment at our nearest clinic today.