Now Enrolling Patients for a Research Study Examining the Feasibility of Treating Osteoarthritic Knee with Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 25, 2016
This study is a prospective, open label, non-randomized study to be conducted at the Weil Foot-Ankle and Orthopedic Institute. Twenty patients meeting the study inclusion and exclusion criteria and categorized as Osteoarthritis Grade 2 to Grade 3 by the K-L scale will be enrolled.
Dr. Sheinkop will be injecting concentrated bone marrow-derived stem cells and growth factors into the knee joint, the latter consisting of the intraarticular space between the femur and tibia, as well as into the tibia bone adjacent to the joint. Patients will be followed for one year, and they will be scheduled for periodic follow-up visits over the entire year to measure improvements in pain relief and function.
Current options for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis have been limited to pain medication, steroids, hyaluronic acid injections, physical therapy, chiropractic care, or any combination thereof; ultimately, a knee replacement. While these options may provide temporary symptom relief, they do not provide a long-lasting healing effect for the osteoarthritic knee nor is there a possibility of avoiding a major surgical procedure. Bone marrow-derived stem cells and growth factors offer regenerative potential when injected both into the joint and into the bone supporting the joint. Studies have shown that concentrated bone marrow-derived stem cells and growth factors have the potential to slow the degenerative process and, at times, reverse it, and they may eliminate or significantly delay the need for surgical intervention.
The importance of this study is to, for the first time, scientifically document what has been suggested by an emerging awareness about arthritis of joints, namely the articular cartilage of the joint, which might be better dealt with by considering the adjacent bony elements along with the soft tissue degradation. The role of mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors residing within the adjacent bone marrow compartments have been highlighted through the work of Dr. Philippe Hernigou (Chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, University of Paris, France). The use of a patient’s own bone marrow concentrate to treat both the soft tissue, cartilage, and subchondral bone marrow could play a significant role in improving outcomes in osteoarthritic knees.
For questions about the clinical study, please contact Andrea Leon of Weil Foot-Ankle and Orthopedic Institute at aleon(at)weil4feet(dot)com or call 312-475-1893.
Dr. Mitchell B. Sheinkop is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, former director of the joint replacement program and Professor Emeritus at Rush University Medical Center. He is a leading authority on the treatment of patients with complex hip and knee disorders, and he is well known for his pioneering use of computer-assisted navigation, minimally-invasive technologies, and hip resurfacing techniques. During his 37-year joint replacement surgical career, the integration of his clinical practice with his research played a role in the emergence of evidence-based orthopedics. Dr. Sheinkop retired from his active surgical practice six years ago to assume a pioneering role in the new subspecialty of Cellular Orthopedics. Over the past four and a half years, he has performed over 500 Interventional Orthopedic procedures.
