Healing Knee ACL Injuries Without Surgery

By Mayo Friedlis, MD

Daily sports news seems to chronicle promising pro athletes sidelined with potentially career-ending ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) knee injuries.

ACL injuries are normally treated through surgery, in which the torn ligament is replaced with a tissue graft to mimic the natural ACL. Approximately 175,000 ACL reconstructions are done each year in the U.S., and the number is climbing. Adult and child athletes tend to suffer ACL injuries, common in sports such as soccer, football, basketball, or skiing.

The ACL is the ligament inside the knee that prevents the backward and forward motion of the leg bone while providing rotational stability. ACL tears are among the most common of knee injuries. Typically injured while participating in athletics, an ACL tear can also be experienced while performing daily activities.

Stem Cell Therapy An Alternative To Surgery

A new paradigm is emerging in the treatment of ACL tears. Regenerative therapies, using a patient's own stem cells and platelets, are helping people to heal their ACL injuries without surgery. Popularized by celebrity athletes who desire alternatives to surgery, regenerative procedures harness the body's natural ability to heal itself. This approach offers a viable alternative for individuals who may be considering elective surgery to treat all, but the most severe, ACL tears.

Advanced SCP and Stem Cell Treatments The Regenexx Protocols

With the Regenexx Stem Cell protocol, patients participate in a same day injection-based treatment plan designed to promote the growth of new ligament tissue. A physician performs this procedure by aspirating a patient's own stem cells and precisely injecting the stem cell-rich mixture into the exact site of injury, utilizing ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. These stem cells are then activated and turned into ligament cells using platelet-derived growth factors from the Regenexx SCP (Super Concentrated Platelets.)

The Regenexx SCP (Super Concentrated Platelets) is a more advanced form of the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) technique. Patients benefit from a protocol that yields a much higher concentration of platelets when compared to the body's natural number of platelets. Research has shown that the higher concentration has a more positive effect on the stem cells responsible for repairing damaged tissue. A simple blood draw will yield enough platelets for the procedure. Utilizing an in-house laboratory, a patient's own platelets are carefully processed, by hand, to remove any undesirable red and white blood cells. This sample is injected into the site of injury and will act as a catalyst for healing.

Patients can immediately begin participating in low-impact walking and exercise. This permits patients to maintain their current fitness level and return to desired activity levels quickly.

Are You a Candidate?

The trend toward regenerative therapies is on the rise. If you or a loved one have experienced an ACL injury and seek a non-invasive approach, or complement to surgery, consider consulting a Regenexx-certified physician to learn if you or they are a candidate.