Does Stem Cell Therapy for Knees Work?

As kids, nasty grazes aside, we may not have thought a lot about our knees. As adults, our situation is a little different. We may feel our joints hurt a little more often

However, it’s not only those entering their twilight years who are susceptible to knee pain and degeneration. Anyone trying to maintain an active lifestyle or doing regular physical exercise will be no stranger to knee injuries.

Are knee surgeries the only option for these injuries? Not necessarily. Stem cell-based approaches have attracted growing scientific interest as a possible alternative for certain knee problems. In this post, learn more about knee injuries and about the scientific thinking behind stem cell-based approaches.

Stem cells can contribute to tissue repair at the cellular level, which is why stem cell-based approaches have been explored for a range of knee conditions, including:

• Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Consistent pain due to the degeneration of knee cartilage
• Acute knee injuries due to torn ligament or meniscus

Before undergoing any kind of treatment, a full diagnostic must first be performed by specialists to determine if a candidate is eligible for stem cell therapy.

Doctors and researchers around the world are working to improve the treatments available for people suffering from knee problems. Stem cell-based approaches have emerged as a promising area of research for these patients.

If you want to learn more about the different stem cell procedures, you can read about them here:

• Bone Marrow Concentrate Therapy: The most commonly applied source of stem cells.
• Stem Cell Secretome Therapy: An approach designed to obtain the regenerative factors secreted by stem cells under controlled laboratory conditions.
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A common source of stem cells; research has described their ability to signal to other cells through a broad spectrum of secreted paracrine and regenerative factors.

It’s understandable that anyone considering stem cell therapy will want to hear from others who have undergone a similar treatment. Individual experiences can be informative, though they naturally vary from person to person and are not a substitute for clinical evidence.

Online forums and social media may contain patient reviews, but these are not verified. For a fuller picture, it is worth looking at peer-reviewed scientific publications and seeking independent medical advice alongside any personal accounts.

Injecting stem cells into the knee does not require surgery and is generally described as a minimally invasive procedure, which patients often tolerate well.

Reported side effects are generally mild and may include temporary swelling and joint stiffness. As with any procedure involving injections, there is a possibility of infection at the injection site.

Stem cell treatments for the knees are generally considered to have a favourable safety profile, particularly when a patient’s own adult stem cells are used. Using a patient’s own (autologous) cells may further reduce certain risks.

Like with any other procedure, stem cell therapy is not risk-free. When different types of stem cells are used or if it’s mixed with other chemicals, the risk of having a bad reaction increases.

Much depends on the clinic. Standards differ internationally, and some providers advertise stem cell treatments without adequate quality control – for example, without using pure or viable stem cells.

Be very careful about these places. If you find yourself tempted by very low prices, bear in mind that you could be exposing yourself to unethical and dangerous medical practices. Always do a solid background check on the doctors and clinics you’re considering for your treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in America has approved clinical trials for several stem cell-based treatments. However, the only therapies approved to be carried out in the USA by the FDA are bone marrow transplantations.

Regulatory frameworks differ between countries. In the European Union, stem cell-based treatments are subject to strict regulation, and a number of clinics in Europe specialise in this field within that framework.

Stem cell-based treatments are relatively new compared with the more conventional methods of dealing with knee pain, and their role continues to be studied.

Research into stem cell-based approaches goes back several decades, and a substantial body of studies has investigated their use. The evidence for individual knee indications continues to develop, and the sustained scientific interest reflects a genuine therapeutic rationale.

Because stem cells act at the cellular level, stem cell-based approaches may support the body’s own repair processes. This is one reason they are of interest to people looking for alternatives to knee surgery, including some athletes.

The knee pain that many patients feel is usually caused by damaged cartilage, which cannot repair itself without help. This is supposed to be the local stem cells’ job, but because the knee has limited blood supply, the area’s inherent stem cells cannot work properly.

By introducing additional stem cells into the area, stem cell-based approaches aim to support this natural repair process, which may in turn help to reduce pain.

There is still no conclusive evidence that stem cell therapy can permanently cure arthritis. Currently, experts are still researching ways to improve stem cell-based treatments to treat arthritis in the knee and other joints.

For example, research has identified immunomodulatory properties of stem cells, which may help to reduce the body’s inflammatory response. These findings have contributed to scientific interest in stem cell-based approaches for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Knee damage is often caused by articular cartilage injury. This is the tough yet thin cartilage that lines the end of bones which absorb shock. Trauma such as heavy impact or a collision can cause damage to this tissue and unfortunately, it cannot repair itself naturally.

This is where stem cell-based approaches may help. When adult stem cells are introduced into the affected area, researchers believe they may multiply and contribute to the formation of new bone or cartilage.

Knee pain caused by the bone is usually a sign of osteoarthritis. Having this bone disease can cause major discomfort and in extreme cases, disability.

Do stem cells work on bone, especially for people with osteoarthritis? Research suggests they may. As with cartilage, adult stem cells may help to generate new cells to replace those affected by osteoarthritis.

Outcomes vary for many reasons, including the condition of the patient, the stage of the disease and the number of sessions. Reported benefits may last for a considerable period, though the duration differs from person to person.

The actual procedure for stem cell injections should only last a few hours. People undergoing the treatment in clinics are considered as outpatients, which means they don’t have to stay overnight in the hospital for further observation.

The number of injections depends on the individual case. Some patients with no other underlying condition may notice a change after a single session.

Others – for example those whose knee condition is affected by a chronic illness – may require more sessions than someone with a minor injury.

The effects of stem cell therapy on the knees are not considered permanent. Some patients report that the relief lasts longer than with conventional symptom-focused treatments.

For some people with knee degeneration or injury, stem cell therapy may be an attractive alternative to knee replacement surgery. Reasons often given include:

1. Recovery tends to be quicker. Knee replacement surgery typically requires three to six weeks of recovery, whereas an injection-based procedure is considerably less disruptive.
2. Because the approach works at the cellular level, its effects may be longer-lasting.
3. An injection-based procedure is far less invasive than major joint surgery, and many patients find it more comfortable.

The cost of stem cell treatment for the knees varies on the number of sessions required, which is highly dependent on the condition of the patient and his or her medical history. Another factor is the location of the stem cell clinic because certain regulations specific to the locale can add to overhead costs.

In the US, stem cell treatment for the knees ranges from USD 3,000 to USD 10,000. However, there are various news reports raising ethical concerns over several stem cell clinics in the US and whose treatments are not approved by the FDA.

Treatments in Germany may be costlier, but providers there are subject to strict German and EU regulatory standards.

Unfortunately, Medicare in the US does not cover stem cell therapy for knees because it has to be approved by the FDA first. As such, Medicare considers stem cell-based therapies as experimental procedures.

Most stem cell-based procedures are not covered by insurance.

Don’t be disheartened if you find out that your insurance cannot pay for your treatment. There are payment schemes available and clinics like ANOVA Institute for Regenerative Medicine which take the patients’ situations into account.

If you want to know more about stem cell therapy for knees or ANOVA IRM’s payment plans, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Stem cell-based and secretome approaches remain developing areas of medicine. The available evidence varies by indication, individual outcomes cannot be predicted, and treatment is offered only following an individual medical assessment.