Stem Cell Therapy for Shoulder Injuries and Arthritis
If an individual has experienced a shoulder or rotator cuff injury or suffers from chronic shoulder pain due to arthritis, they may consider state of the art stem cell therapy procedures. This unique injectable procedure will allow the patient to avoid surgery and still achieve effective and sustainable outcomes.
Board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide stem cell therapy for shoulder and rotator cuff injuries and arthritis to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities in the Sagebrush State.
Key Advantages
The non-surgical stem cell therapy procedure can be performed in just one day, and serves as a viable alternative for patients who want to avoid surgery or joint replacement. Following the stem cell treatment, the patient can expect to return quickly to their normal routine and will be able to avoid the extend rehab period that usually follows an invasive shoulder joint surgery.
Another advantage of stem cell injection procedure is that the typical risks associated with a surgery, such as infection and blood clots are almost entirely avoided with this non-surgical treatment.
How does it Work?
Stem cell therapy involves the use of the patient’s own cells to promote healing of the damaged tissues. Using advanced techniques, the surgeon will extract stem cells from the bone marrow, concentrate them in a lab process, and then re-inject the concentrated form into the precise areas of tissue injury or damage with the help of advanced imaging guidance.
With advanced imaging, the surgeon is able to ensure that the stem cells are delivered into the precise area of need. As the stem cells are introduced into the area, they stimulate the natural repair process of the injured or degenerated ligaments, tendons, and arthritic shoulder joint. This helps to reverse the natural breakdown process that has been going on due to injury, overuse or aging.
Stem Cell Procedure
The body has a store of stem cells to support the mechanism of tissue repair following injury or degeneration. The stem cells remain in reserve in the marrow cavity of the bones. The surgeon can harvest these stem cells easily from the back of the hip area. This procedure can be performed in-office, using imaging guidance for precision.
The surgeon will numb the targeted area and then insert a special needle into the bone to draw the stem cell containing marrow blood. This harvesting procedure is typically well tolerated by patients and most patients remain comfortable throughout. Once the marrow blood is drawn, it is sent through a unique centrifugal process to purify and concentrate the stem cells.
This process involves customized designing of the stem cell specimen according to the specific shoulder damage or injury. A preparation of concentrated blood platelets is also collected at this time for injection into the injury site. This releases PRP growth factors that will trigger the stem cells into action.
The platelets are re-injected a few days later to keep the stem cells activate to promote further healing. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for stem cell therapy.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9393.