Stem Cells and Placental Growth Factors

Often times, new technology is encountered in any medical subspecialty that raises eyebrows and concerns patients. This is usually met with skepticism and may even offer need for second opinions depending on the nature of the treatment in question.  This practice is always striving to be on the cutting edge of new technology and we have always tried to offer all nonsurgical management options possible depending on the clinical pathology at hand. We see many patients each day with chronic tendon tears, or capsular injuries which are subtle, and most often longstanding. These sorts of injuries range from mild symptoms, to severe tendon pathologic weakness. Often times these injuries and chronic conditions would require bracing and surgery, but more biotechnology is becoming available with new data suggesting alternatives to these sorts of treatments. There are several companies which are bringing cellular technology that contains growth factors such as PDGT A and B, FGF, TGF-beta, EGF, and various others with stem cell progenitors which may lead to proliferating tissues in vitro.  This is exciting, primarily for patients who otherwise are told they need extensive tendon debridement and reinforcements, otherwise they require extensive bracing and immobilization which will limit activity level and lead to further health issues longterm.  This technology may not heal a tendon which is 80% torn, or increase range of motion in a great toe joint with capsular damage that has led to cartilage compromise, but it may be the sort of technologic treatment to serve as another intermediate step in the progressive nature of treating chronic foot and ankle tendonopathys and capsulopathies which may prolong or negate the time frame to need any sort of surgery.  Data is still being amassed and certainly no final consensus has been reached as to how much these sorts of injectable treatments can benefit patients in differing tendon dysfunctions, but one thing is certain: FFLC will be there to at least help evaluate these treatments and offer all beneficial treatments possible to our patients.

DR TIMM