Is PRP/Stem Cell Therapy Better for Chondral Defect Knee Treatment?

1. Is PRP/Stem Cell Therapy Better for Chondral Defect Knee Treatment? A chondral defect occurs when the articular cartilage – the low-friction supportive tissue that lines the surface of the knee joint – is injured or damaged. Basically, whenever there’s a localized loss of that articular cartilage, it’s called a chondral defect, and it can occur for a number of reasons. Chondral defects can occur spontaneously in children and adolescents as a result of growth, or they can happen to adults or children due to trauma or injury. For older adults, the trauma really doesn’t have to be very intense to cause loss of some articular cartilage, and it can even occur due to normal wear and tear on the joint over time. What Are the Symptoms of a Chondral Defect? Chondral defects can have a number of different symptoms. Many patients report a sudden onset of pain that comes and goes and may be accompanied by swelling or stiffness in the joint. The knee joint may also catch and have trouble with range of motion. Instability in the knee may also occur, and it’s not uncommon for the joint to fail to straighten entirely. In general, resting will help lessen symptoms while activity will aggravate them. Traditional Chondral Defect Knee Treatments

2. Because there are so many variables involved in this kind of knee injury, there’s never been a single go-to treatment. Some patients just need to rest and visit a physical therapist for prescribed exercises until the knee is repaired. For others, traditional treatment can get much more invasive. For example, if the joint keeps catching or the knee won’t fully straighten, arthroscopy surgery is often prescribed to remove any loose cartilage and smooth the surface of the joint. If the cartilage and/or underlying bone are still partially attached, internal fixation surgery is usually called for to re-attach the floating or loose fragments. If there’s a full thickness cartilage defect, microfracture surgery is usually prescribed, which involves drilling multiple tiny holes in the defect’s bony base to allow blood flow into the cavity for healing. But are these the best ways to treat a patient with a chondral defect? Depending on the severity and type of the defect either PRP or stem cell therapy might be the better option. PRP Therapy for a Minor Chondral Defect Patients who have been prescribed physical therapy and rest may find that their recovery time is significantly accelerated with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy. Introducing your body’s own growth factors to the injured area will stimulate healing responses, which will cause the joint to heal much faster and more completely than with rest and physical therapy alone. Stem Cell Therapy for Chondral Defect Knee Treatment Some patients who would otherwise need surgery may be able to avoid it with stem cell therapy. Introducing the body’s stem cells to the injured area can help the body heal in ways that it could not on its own. While surgery is not always unavoidable, it may not be the only solution for chondral defect knee treatment. In fact, stem cell therapy may be more effective while giving the patient less downtime for recovery. To learn more about stem cell therapy and PRP therapy for injuries like a chondral defect, and to find out how regenerative medicine can help you, call us at Texas Cell Institute today at 972-668-9612.