Surgical Risks
While in some cases orthopedic surgery is the only viable treatment for an injury, all surgeries come with some risk, and invasive orthopedic surgeries are no exception. Though it’s typically safer than the surgeries themselves, general anesthesia carries risk of heart attack or stroke. Additionally, any surgery can lead to infection and other related complications. Heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, hemorrhages, allergies, and in the case of joint replacements, metal ions in the blood can also result from orthopedic surgeries. Actual risk rates vary from surgery to surgery with some body parts being considerably safer than others, but all bear substantially greater risk than injection-based treatments such as those used by Regenexx.
In addition to risks from the surgery itself, many patients find they are not entirely satisfied with the outcome. Loss of full range of motion, continued pain, and need for revisions (surgical corrections to the original procedure) are not uncommon outcomes from orthopedic surgeries. They additionally often come with lengthy recovery time, and the procedures can leave surrounding tissues damaged and weak which increases the risk of repeated injury. Joint replacements come with more risk still since they involve permanently removing parts of your joint and replacing them with plastic or metal, and these prosthetics can become loose or fail entirely. Most joint replacements need to be repeated within 10-15 years and can only be performed twice in a lifetime. Regenexx encourages patients to educate themselves as to all of their available options prior to undergoing an irreversible surgical procedure.
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Regenexx is a world-wide network of specially trained physicians providing the world's most advanced, research-driven, regenerative interventional orthopedic procedures in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Many Shoulder and Rotator Cuff injuries are good candidates for regenerative interventional orthopedic procedures. Before considering shoulder arthroscopy or shoulder replacement, consider an evaluation of your condition with a regenerative treatment specialist.
- Rotator Cuff Tears and Tendinitis
- Shoulder Instability
- SLAP Tear / Labral Tears
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Other Degenerative Conditions & Overuse Injuries
Many spine injuries and degenerative conditions are good candidates for regenerative treatments and there are a number of studies showing promising results in treating a wide range of spine problems. Spine surgery should be a last resort for anyone, due to the cascade of negative effects it can have on the areas surrounding the surgery. And epidural steroid injections are problematic due to their long-term negative impact on bone density.
- Herniated, Bulging, Protruding Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- SI Joint Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Pinched Nerves and General Back Pain
- And more
Knees are the target of many common sports injuries. Sadly, they are also the target of a number of surgeries that research has frequently shown to be ineffective or minimally effective. Knee arthritis can also be a common cause for aging athletes to abandon the sports and activities they love. Regenerative procedures can be used to treat a wide range of knee injuries and conditions. They can even be used to reduce pain and delay knee replacement for more severe arthritis.
- Knee Meniscus Tears
- Knee ACL Tears
- Knee Instability
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Other Knee Ligaments / Tendons & Overuse Injuries
- And more
Many spine injuries and degenerative conditions are good candidates for regenerative treatments and there are a number of studies showing promising results in treating a wide range of spine problems. Spine surgery should be a last resort for anyone, due to the cascade of negative effects it can have on the areas surrounding the surgery. And epidural steroid injections are problematic due to their long-term negative impact on bone density.
- Herniated, Bulging, Protruding Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- SI Joint Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Pinched Nerves and General Back Pain
- And more
- Hand and Wrist Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Trigger Finger
- Thumb Arthritis (Basal Joint, CMC, Gamer’s Thumb, Texting Thumb)
- Other conditions that cause pain
Most injuries of the elbow’s tendons and ligaments, as well as arthritis, can be treated non-surgically with regenerative procedures.
- Golfer’s elbow & Tennis elbow
- Arthritis
- Ulnar collateral ligament wear (common in baseball pitchers)
- And more
Hip injuries and degenerative conditions become more common with age. Do to the nature of the joint, it’s not quite as easy to injure as a knee, but it can take a beating and pain often develops over time. Whether a hip condition is acute or degenerative, regenerative procedures can help reduce pain and may help heal injured tissue, without the complications of invasive surgical hip procedures.
- Labral Tear
- Hip Arthritis
- Hip Bursitis
- Hip Sprain, Tendonitis or Inflammation
- Hip Instability
- Ankle Arthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Other conditions that cause pain
