A Look at Regenerative Medicine by Dr. Bret Musser
Regenerative medicine is all the rage in most areas of medicine and for good reason. Foot and Ankle medicine is no different. Patient’s are not looking for ways to mask their condition, but are searching for ways to heal their ailments. Products such as amniotic tissue, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and collagen have been shown to address injured areas directly by using the body’s own mechanisms to augment the healing process. These therapies are used quite often in the office and in surgical procedures.
Products that include amniotic tissue or fluid are from donor placental membrane and fluid. These tissues are very rich in healing factors and nutrients needed to heal injured tissues. The medical literature has shown great benefit of these donor cells to heal tendon, ligament, and localized cartilage injuries. Amniotic tissue is often used in surgery to help augment healing of repaired tendons as well as reduce scar tissue formation after surgery.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses your own body’s healing pathways to create localized healing through your body’s inflammatory process. PRP is blood drawn from your veins and then spun down using a special process to create extra dense healing nutrients from your own cells. This technique has the benefit of using your own cells to help heal injury instead of using donated cells. PRP can also be used for a variety of musculoskeletal injuries in the foot and ankle.
Collagen injections are quite useful in the reparative process of injury. Our body is full of different types of collagen. Collagen is the main source of tissue used for most anatomical structures in the body including tendon, ligament, and cartilage. Many times, in injured tissue, there is a collagen deficit. Collagen acts as a scaffold to bridge injured tissue with healthy tissue. By introducing collagen to an injured area you are providing the structure necessary to create an optimal healing environment for damaged tissue.
In my practice, I utilize these treatments to help heal injured areas instead of masking the pain. It is better to direct treatment toward the source of the problem. These treatments; in conjunction with other therapies; have helped maximize my patient’s results and get them back to healthy living, quicker. I also use these products in my surgeries to help regenerate damaged tendon and ligament as well as regenerate damaged cartilage within the ankle joint using minimally invasive techniques such as arthroscopy.
If you are suffering from foot and ankle injuries that are not improving and want more information regarding Northern Illinois Foot and Ankle Specialists regenerative medicine program contact us at 847-639-5800 or find us online at www.illinoisfoot.com
Dr. Bret Musser has hours on the following days & at the following locations:
Monday – Lake in the Hills – 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday – Lake in the Hills – 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday – Lake in the Hills – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday – Cary – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM