Patients suffering from chronic partial tendon tear feel every step they take, and the pain can be debilitating. Whether contracted through sports, work or accident, when these sensitive parts of our joints cannot be normally healed, orthopedic surgery is often suggested, and is often only partially successful. New advances in stem cell therapy offer hope for many struggling with chronic partial tendon tear, and the experts at The Institute of Regenerative & Molecular Orthopaedics have become the most trusted provider of this innovative therapy. Here is a look at this injury and this unique treatment for it.
What is Chronic Partial Tendon Tear?
Tendons are the pliable tissue which hold our joints together, and a wrenching injury can cause them to tear severely. This is often called “blowing out” the joint, as when a popular athlete blows out his or her knee or ankle. Still, an incompletely healed injury of this sort, or a slow-developing tear caused by repeated unique stresses may develop a small tear which cannot normally heal. While one may still be able to move in a way not typical of a full tear, the pain associated and limited mobility can make getting around miserable. Even orthopedic surgery may not be able to solve this problem, though it is often attempted.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
All cells in the human body are distinct to their purpose—a brain cell looks and operates differently than, say, a blood cell. Before they all become so distinct, however, they all begin as stem cells, basic building blocks for the human body. A variety of techniques have been developed for obtaining these unique cells and for programming them to become the kind of cell needed. Our facility have pioneered the use of bone marrow aspirate as an easy source of stem cells, drawing out bone marrow, separating its various parts and harvesting the stem cells for regenerative purposes.
This is particularly helpful for joint and tendon injuries, as these areas of the body are typically unable to heal themselves with the body's own stem cells. By applying these harvested cells to the site of the injury by injection and—at times—arthroscopic surgery, one can avoid full orthopedic surgery when dealing with any tendon tear—chronic or catastrophic. The Institute of Regenerative and Molecular Orthopaedics has handled thousands of such cases, and may be able to heal your injury.