There are certain situations in which using bone marrow aspirate is not the best option. In these situations, further discussions about donor stem cells are reasonable and necessary. Any individual who is known to have a chronic illness, such as a rheumatologic condition, or a person who has been treated with chemotherapy or radiation, may not have extremely healthy stem cells, as your stem cells are only as healthy as you are. In addition, more recent literature has outlined that any individual over the age of 60 should consider using donor stem cells due to having a lower concentration of stem cells within their own body.

Following a health, full-term delivery, the placenta and umbilical cord may be collected. Tissue that is naturally rich in stem cells and other desirable properties is then collected from the Wharton’s jelly within the umbilical cord. The collected tissue is minimally processed to preserve what is important and what is safe for homologous use. The final product is placed in a vial and stored at approximately -196°. At the time of your treatment, the product is thawed within the vial, drawn into a syringe, and placed into the target area under either ultrasound or fluoroscope guidance.

The Wharton’s jelly product contains mesenchymal stem cells, cytokines, hyaluronic acids, scaffolding proteins, and exosomes, all of which can work together to help the body repair itself. This Wharton’s jelly product can function in the same way the patient’s own tissue functions, which can aid in recovery. This tissue can work for and with the body to aid in recovery. As your body loses its ability to repair itself (whether due to age-related degeneration or injury), this regenerative product can cushion and provide support where it’s needed. Many of our patients have found relief of joint degeneration, cartilage injury, tendon injury, ligament injury, and facet joint injury.

All regenerative medicine patients at Spine & Joint Solutions will receive a comprehensive approach to their treatment process. This will include a full consultation, during which all questions will be answered. A packet will be provided that includes information on what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. This will include post-injection protocols and activity modifications, as well as what to expect from the rehabilitation process, which begins four weeks after the injection. An outline describing an anti-inflammatory diet, suggested supplements, and recipes will also be included. Patients may be asked to wear a brace or use crutches to offload the joint or spine region that was treated.

Additionally, each patient who undergoes treatment with either PRF or donor products will be asked to take part in the research that is being conducted at Spine & Joint Solutions. This will consist of filling out simple questionnaires before treatment and following up again at specific points after treatment. Repeat imaging may be pursued at times to ensure tissue healing.