Knee osteoarthritis is one of the common disorders, especially in elderly people. It causes the cartilage in the knee or other joints to wear down. It may happen due to age or can be the result of an old injury stressing the joints.
The good news is that medical science has discovered plenty of new treatments to help people with osteoarthritis reduce the symptoms. Make sure you approach professional orthopedic hip and knee specialists such as Dr. Derek L. Hill to find out the treatment that is best for your condition.
Here is a breakdown of a few new treatments approaches orthopedic hip and knee specialists have been using to treat the patients.
Osteoarthritis- What’s New
Hyaluronate Injections or Hyaluronic Acid
The new treatment for osteoarthritis is all rage in the medical domain. Also known as viscosupplement, the new treatment works great to restore or improve synovial fluid. It is typically a slippery substance to lubricate joints.
Hyaluronate is the major synovial fluid component. For decades, orthopedic surgeons have been using Hyaluronate injections into the knee joints directly to restore mobility.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections PRP
PRP or platelet-rich plasma injections have become common to restore knee health. The new treatment approach requires patients’ blood samples to pull out plasma and blood platelets. Doctors use a centrifuge machine for separating platelets.
The platelets are injected into the damaged joint. The mixture is super concentrated and has substances that can promote healing. Though PRP injections are popular in high-profile athletes, the treatment formulation needs further studies to prove efficacy. The treatment may also vary depending on the type of injury or disease you have.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Did you the cells in your body can grow into different types of tissues?
The bone marrow cells in the body can make mesenchymal stem cells. They grow into the tissues including cartilage. Doctors collect these cells and inject them into the joint to repair or restore the damaged tissues. The new treatment of osteoarthritis helps reduce inflammation and form new cartilage.
While it is an effective treatment approach, it still needs more clinical trials and studies to prove its long-term impact on knee mobility and bone health. A 2016’s review in BMC Musculoskeletal disorders found that MSC-based therapies or treatments can offer plenty of exciting possibilities for knee or hip treatment.
However, there is still a need for further studies to determine how these therapies can work for knee health.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
Bone marrow aspire concentrate is based on MSCs concept. Doctors or medical professionals use the body cells to stimulate tissue repair or healing processes in the knee. One of the advantages of using this treatment is that bone marrow is easier to obtain compared to MSCs. It also has specific substances that can promote cartilage regrowth and reduce inflammation.
A group of medical professionals has reviewed the approach in the “Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine” and concluded that it has excellent outcomes.
Autologous Cultured Chondrocytes
Autologous cultured chondrocytes is another new treatment approach to repair bone disorders or injuries leading to osteoarthritis. Doctors collect the cells from cartilage, let them grow in the lab, and re-inject them in to the knee.
Summing Up
Knee osteoarthritis is treatable if you consult experienced specialists like Dr.Hill. Schedule your appointment today to discuss the best treatment for osteoarthritis.
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