Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

An Update on RCTs for Knee Osteoarthrtitis

Two years ago, I summarized all of the RCTs for PRP used to treat knee arthritis. It’s now time for an update, especially with the recent craziness around fake PRP studies. Let’s dig in. What Is an RCT? The top level of research quality is called an RCT or Randomized Controlled Trial. Usually, two treatments…read more

Should We Be Adding HA to PRP? A Literature Review

As CMO of Regenexx, it’s my job to stay up to date on the research behind the latest trends in Orthobiologics research. One of those new things is adding common knee gel shots (HA) to PRP to improve knee arthritis results more than PRP alone. So let’s explore the high-level research supporting this idea and…read more

Is Saline a Placebo or a Treatment?

In the world of pain and arthritis research, it’s been a long-held belief that the gold standard is a placebo group that receives saline. However, these past 5-10 years there’s been pushback on that idea by the research community. Meaning many now believe that saline is a treatment by itself. Hence, what if saline isn’t…read more

The Evidence Supporting Common Orthopedic Surgeries Is AWFUL

I’ve been blogging on the evidence base behind orthopedic surgery for years and I’ve taken HUGE amounts of flak from a handful of orthopedic surgeons who don’t like my approach. Now a new British Medical Journal study confirms what I’ve been saying for the last decade-plus, common orthopedic surgeries have embarrassingly poor evidence. Let’s dig…read more

The P and the O Shot? Medical Treatment or Enhancement?

There’s been an interesting trend out there for years, but one I have never really blogged on. Doctors injecting PRP into people’s genitals. More disturbing is that this is one of those areas that tends to leave the world of disease treatment and enter into enhancement. Let’s dive in. These Are Trademarked Terms Interestingly, these…read more

Is Injecting the Bone in Knee Arthritis the New Standard?

If you read this blog, you know that there are VAST differences in knowledge and training between providers offering knee “stem cell” treatments. In addition, what you get at one clinic will be vastly different, and many times not even be similar to what you get at another. The one equalizer is supposed to be…read more

My PRP Injection RCT Infographic: Google Screwed Up

As you might recall, Google made the decision this year to restrict medical clinic advertising for PRP (platelet rich plasma). However, was that a move based on the scientific literature or just bad advice? After spending days distilling all of the PRP RCTs down to a single diagram, it’s clear that Google got bad advice.…read more

RIP Hip Impingement Surgery?

OK, let’s be honest here. The research base behind the world’s most common orthopedic surgical procedures is blowing up or, more accurately, falling down. It’s been an absolutely awful run for common procedures like knee debridement, meniscectomy, rotator cuff repair, and other common surgeries that make up many billions in annual healthcare spending in the U.S. Frankly,…read more