What is mesenchymal stem cell treatment?
Stem cells are the originators of all cells in the body, they regenerate and repair damaged tissues. When people are in the process of development, a small portion of stem cells remain residing in different tissues for when they are needed. Adult stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells are present in bone marrow, kidneys, heart, adipose tissue, etc.
Why is it performed?
Mesenchymal stem cells have many advantages, since they are easily isolated and maintain their capacity to expand without losing their faculties. In addition, they have immunomodulatory properties, that is, they regulate the immune system by increasing or decreasing antibodies. It is used as a treatment for pathologies such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, tissue regeneration, etc.
What does it consist of?
The first step is to obtain the liquid in which there are stem cells from the bone marrow or from the defined area. The sample is sent to a laboratory that cultivates it for 3 weeks and follows a selection process to expand these cells and generate 40 million stem cells that will be transferred to the patient. When injected into the patient, platelet-rich plasma and growth factors are also added to the joint to be treated. In this way, the regeneration of the joint and the musculoskeletal system is stimulated.
Mesenchymal stem cells have immunomodulatory properties.
Preparation for mesenchymal stem cell treatment
First, it is necessary to obtain the stem cells. For this purpose, the patient has to fast for 6 hours before the operation. The treatment lasts 25 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. Afterwards, local cold is applied and the patient is transferred to the recovery area and then discharged. Rest is recommended for 24 hours.
The second part of the treatment consists of the injection of the treatment. Again, the patient must fast for 6 hours prior to the operation. After the antiseptic preparation, the product is injected and a dressing is applied. The patient is then transferred to the recovery room and if there are no problems, the patient can go home.
Care after the operation
Complete rest is recommended for 48 hours after the treatment and relative rest for one week. In the following weeks, the specialist in Traumatology will see the evolution of the patient and will indicate the guidelines for the rehabilitation of the area. The specialist will indicate the controls to be carried out and the time of rest that, in each case, will be different.
Alternatives to this treatment
Joint tissues (cartilage) have a very limited capacity for self-repair, which accelerates the progressive evolution of osteoarthritis, and the treatment of this disease is a great challenge for current medicine. This has led to the replacement of palliative treatments by reconstructive or regenerative methods, in an attempt to avoid or delay the replacement of the joint by a prosthesis. Progenitor cell (adult stem cell) treatments have been used extensively and successfully in traumatology in recent years to treat various diseases. The use of cell therapy (Autologous Bone Marrow Cell Transplantation) to achieve joint regeneration derived from osteoarthritis is a powerful therapeutic weapon that is modifying the approach to the treatment of this pathology, through which promising results are also being obtained. Progenitor cells are the only cells with the ability to regenerate injured structures and tissues, so their use is optimal for the treatment of this degenerative disease. The treatment can be performed in various joints, being the most frequent in knee and hip. It is performed by arthroscopy and by means of a single intervention.