Bone Marrow Aspirate
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are a special type of cell that has the potential to grow into many different types of cells. For example stem cells can grow up to be brain cells, heart cells, lung cells; essentially any type of cell you can think of.
In musculoskeletal health we are especially interested in a sub set of stem cells referred to as mesenchymal stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells can mature into muscle cells, fat cells, cartilage cells, bone cells, and tendon cells.
Thus, mesenchymal stem cells might offer a unique treatment option of diseases that result in unhealthy cartilage (osteoarthritis), unhealthy bone (osteoporosis), unhealthy muscle (sarcopenia), or unhealthy tendon (tendinopathy).
Why Use Stem Cells to Treat Injury?
Stem cells have the potential to become many different types of new healthy cells. For instance, in osteoarthritis, cartilage has a hard time generating new cartilage cells. Stem cells might provide a source of healthy cartilage cells that in turn produce new cartilage and boost the joint’s mechanical properties so you experience less pain, stiffness, and weakness.
Stem cells also positively impact the immune system. Immune system dysfunction and chronic unhealthy inflammation are driving forces behind chronic joint, bone, muscle, and tendon disease. Stem cells are able to help rebalance the immune system’s response to injury and orchestrate an overall health promoting milieu.
Where Do Stem Cells Come From?
Stem cells reside in many places in the body, but he most common sources of stem cells for treatment include: bone marrow and fat.
Since bone marrow derived stem cells and fat derived stem cells are your own stem cells; thus, you don’t have to worry about your immune system rejecting or destroying them.
How Are Stem Cells Delivered to Injured Areas?
In bone marrow harvesting, bone marrow is aspirated from the iliac crest region of your pelvis. The stem cells are then isolated via a centrifuge, a machine that is able to separate different components of bone marrow. The stem cells are than injected back into the body.
In fat harvesting, fat is aspirated most commonly from the belly. The stem cells are than separated from fat and injected back into the body.
Ask Dr. Lucas if Stem Cell Therapy is a treatment option for you.
