In a “first” for stem cell therapy, the Ocala, Florida based Biologic Therapies, Inc. successfully treated a patient’s chronically injured Achilles tendon with an injection of stem cells. Biologic Therapies’ Chief Medical Director R. Wade McKenna, M.D. and Chief Scientific Officer Neil H. Riordan, M.D. founders of the Riordan-McKenna Institute in Southlake, Texas, authored the report titled ‘Minimally Invasive Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate Stem Cells in the Treatment of the Chronically Injured Achilles Tendon: A Case Report” The journal, CELLR4, the official journal of The Cure Alliance, published the report.
The case involved a 56-year-old patient who complained about a painful “knot” in her left Achilles tendon. She had been an active tennis player and recreational athlete, but had not been able to play tennis or jog for ten years. She experienced severe pain when walking. She had been to multiple physicians and had followed ten years of standard treatment with stretches and anti-inflammatories. She had refused multiple offers of invasive surgery that could not promise a return to tennis.
On physical examination McKenna found that the patient had a large, palpable knot in the Achilles tendon. An MRI scan showed severe hypertrophic changes with marked tendinopathy.
The patient received stem cell therapy in the doctor’s office. McKenna drew bone marrow from the patient’s tibia, processed it in a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells and growth factors and then injected the mixture around the patient’s injured tendon. McKenna had given the patient an injection of local anesthesia and she reported little or not pain during the procedure.
After six weeks the patient reported no pain at rest and minimal pain while walking. After eight weeks, there was less pain while walking. The knot had shrunk to less than 50% of the pre-treatment size and was relatively non-tender to touch. The patient was playing tennis without significant pain or difficulty. After ten weeks an MRI scan showed even more reduction in the size of the knot, and pain was reduced even further. After 32 weeks an MRI scan showed near complete healing of the treated Achilles tendon.
According to Luke Whalen, Biologic Therapies’ CEO, “This is an extremely important development for Biologic Therapies. The case report shows that stem cell therapy is an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon injury, which has not been documented before. The report also shows that stem cell therapy for this type of injury can be administered in a physician’s office as a point-of-care outpatient procedure using Biologic Therapies products. There is no need for hospitalization and surgery as would have been the case previously.”
You are late in the game. There are 26 clinics in the regenexx network and they have been doing this for a while and they publish…
http://Www.regenexx.com
Can you please cite a peer-reviewed achilles tendon injury case study published by Dr. Centeno before this one? Thank you.
Dear Sir:
I am a very physically active 72 year old male.
I did 75 pull ups for my 72 birthday.
Issue is both shoulders. Arthritis.
I can move 245 with the bench press, but can not lower it due to pain.
I can mover 200 with the military press, but can only lower it about 6″s due to pain. I use 100 for normal military press.
How can I benefit with the Regenexx?
You will be limited to the benefit from Regenxx because it relies on your own bodies protoplasmic health to supply the stem cell and progenitor cells. Unfortunately your age will limit the amount and the stem potential. There is a company out of memphis that provides products that contain these same cell types and are gathered from live birth c-sections. No fetal demise.
Two days ago I completely ruptured my achilles playing tennis! My friend who is our local surgeon has advised me away from surgery because of a prior bout with a bad staff infection. I’m and active 39yr old. Would this treatment be beneficial for me, and what are the costs?