Regenerative medicine harnesses the body’s natural healing ability by using your own stem cells to repair damaged tissue. Stem cells are undeveloped cells with the ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types. These cells are important for growth and repair of damaged tissue in the body.
There are different kinds of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are only used in research and are not FDA-approved or compliant for treatments. Stem cells from birth tissues like umbilical cord blood are only approved for treating certain blood disorders—not orthopedic issues.
The most relevant for joint and tissue repair are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which come from a patient’s own bone marrow or fat. These cells can develop into bones, cartilage, tendon, ligament and muscle cells. They also release healing molecules that reduce inflammation, promote tissue regeneration and fight infection.
The body is constantly healing itself by replacing dead cells through growth and regeneration. Injuries, disease, and aging can interfere with this process, leading to pain and degeneration. Regenerative medicine offers a way to boost the body’s natural repair mechanisms by injecting concentrated healing cells into damaged tissue. Although still considered a newer approach within orthopedics, these cell-based therapies have shown promising results as non-surgical options, especially for patients who haven’t responded to traditional treatments and are not candidates for surgery.
