Cartilage damage, which may occur due to different reasons in the joints, causes arthrosis, which is defined as wear, pain, and eventually arthritis, especially in the knee and hip joints over time. Moreover, cartilage cannot regenerate itself when the cartilage cell dies from the very special structure groove, it cannot heal itself. Therefore, it is necessary to stop this damage to the joints and prevent their progression.

Stem cell therapy is a method used to reduce the progression of cartilage damage in patients with early cartilage damage, with painful joints but early for surgery, or who do not want to undergo surgery. However, stem cell therapy is also used in meniscus tears, which prevents the joint faces in the knee joint from rubbing against each other and acts as support.

How is Stem Cell Application Performed?

Stem cells prepared from bone marrow or adipose tissue are injected into the damaged area in the knee where cell healing is expected. In case of damage to the knee cartilage, the target action is achieved with collagen or hyaluronic acid-based carriers so that the stem cells act only on the damaged area without spreading into the knee. Since the stem cell is the person's own cells, it is aimed to heal and regenerate the tissue for treatment.

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are the main cells that have the potential to turn into all the cells in the body. It is divided into two: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Stem cells in adults can regenerate adult tissues and are involved in the repair of the body.

How to Obtain Stem Cells?

Stem cells are obtained from adipose tissue and bone marrow. The removal of the cells is carried out under mild sedation and local anesthesia so that the patient does not feel pain. The stem cells in the fat tissue taken from the pelvis or belly button are filtered and separated under sterile conditions. After about 20-30 minutes of stem cell preparation, the obtained pure stem cells are ready to be applied to the patient.

What Factors Affect the Success of Stem Cell Therapy?

The main factor that increased the success of the treatment was the selection of the right patient and obtaining the stem cells with the appropriate technique. However, lifestyle changes such as weight loss and regular exercise increase the long-term effect of stem cell therapy.

Who Cannot Receive Stem Cell Therapy in Orthopedic Diseases?

• Those with a body mass index above 30 (obese and overweight patients),
• Those who have advanced arthritis and whose tissue is completely finished in the cartilage,
• Those whose immune system is weakened for different reasons,
• Those with rheumatic diseases.

In Which Orthopedic Diseases Can Stem Cell Therapy Be Applied?

• In the knee, hip, shoulder, hand, and ankle arthritis,
• Avascular necrosis in the hip, shoulder, knee, ankle,
• When the meniscus ruptures,
• In non-union fractures,
• Muscle and tendon tears.