The Interventional Orthobiologics Blog
Blog covering topics and research in interventional orthobiologics, interventional orthopedics, and orthopedic procedures.
The Simplest Stem Cell Injection Route May Be the Most Risky
You would think that since an IV is the simplest and least invasive form of application of stem cells, it would also be the safest. However, many years ago, I was part of an organization that investigated some deaths in Asia related to IV stem cell infusions. Now a new study may explain why IV stem…read more
Knee Arthritis Caused by a Bad Ankle?
It’s always interesting to see how modern medicine doesn’t care about how a problem began. This is generally because doctors don’t get paid much to figure things out, just to fix what’s broken. However, at Regenexx we try hard to figure out the complex reasons why our patients have their problems, as that increases the…read more Cervical Disc Replacement Complications: Metal Ions
We ended the 20th century with the idea that we could cut out parts of a person, like a joint or a disc, and insert metal and achieve great things. Then reality got in the way, in that studies began to show that these metal or plastic or ceramic parts wear down and those particles…read more Prolotherapy for CCJ Instability: Keeping Patients Safe
Patients with craniocervical joint (CCJ) instability will often be offered prolotherapy injections. While much of this is performed blind, some physicians will use guidance. However, while guidance is used, many times it’s not used with contrast. Why is this an issue? Let me explain. What Is Prolotherapy? Prolotherapy is one of the earliest regenerative-medicine procedures. It…read more Does Smoking Damage Stem Cells?
Patients often ask questions about how best to optimize their stem cells. I guess another question is what not to do if you’re planning a stem cell procedure. A recent research study suggests that smoking is not a good idea and likely damages your stem cells. Smoking Affects Multiple Body Systems Not smoking cigarettes is…read more Pain in Base of Thumb: Convincing a Skeptic
More than a year ago I was lecturing at a medical conference, and a woman who was a stem cell scientist approached me. While some scientists usually don’t like physicians using stem cells, this one had pain in the base of the thumb and asked if I could help. I just received an e-mail back from her,…read more 