Regenerative Medicine at Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center

Regenerative Medicine

Patients may benefit from a unique non-surgical procedure using the patient’s own growth factors that may help repair damaged tissue, reduce pain and promote healing for osteoarthritis (OA) pain as well as chronic tendonitis. During the procedure, the physician takes bone marrow cells from the back of a patient’s hip and following minimal on site processing of these cells, they are then injected into the patient’s joint or tendon. Since the cells are from the patient’s own body there is no risk of rejection.

A regenerative medicine technique can also be performed with a patient’s own fat taken from the stomach or side and injected into the joints to reduce painful symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The treatments offered are not research or a clinical trial.

Not all patients are candidates for regenerative medicine options.

Please see the list of frequently asked questions below to determine if you are a candidate.

Please review the Questions and Answers to learn more. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us at 404-778-3350 and we will schedule an appointment with the appropriate provider.

The following Emory physicians offer this treatment:

Questions and Answers

What is the benefit of Regenerative Medicine using bone marrow or a fat graft?
Who is a candidate for this treatment?

In general, these treatments are advised for patients who have pain secondary to moderate osteoarthritis in the hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, or thumb, where there is not complete collapse of the joint space and not “bone on bone” changes. We also do stem cells occasionally for soft tissue injuries such as tears or severe tendinosis.
Who is not a candidate for these type of treatments?**
Patients with a blood-borne Cancer (such as lymphoma or leukemia), not in
remission for at least 5 years

Patients undergoing treatment for other malignancies or blood-borne diseases

Patients with an active infection

Patients who are on a high dose of Coumadin or other blood thinner

Patients with multiple medical issues may not be good candidates (low testosterone, low vitamin D, hypothyroidism, diabetes, smoker).

**This a partial list; there may be other conditions that limit your candidacy.
Which joints or body parts can stem cells or fat tissue be injected?

Most commonly injections are for larger joints, such as hips and knees, but we also treat shoulders, ankles, and smaller joints in the hand or feet with these therapies.

Cell treatments are also an option for chronic tendon issues that have been resistant to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other treatments. These are typically done in the rotator cuff, lateral elbow and Achilles tendons. Currently, we do not treat any neck or spinal conditions with cell therapy.
Will the cell injection regenerate cartilage in my joint?

There is some limited data suggesting an ability to regenerate a portion of the cartilage that may be worn down in the patient’s joint. Whether or not the cartilage regenerates has little correlation with relief of pain. In cases of more advanced arthritis, we are less likely to see any cartilage regeneration.
What is the success rate of these types of therapies?

Our experience is that most patients will have significant relief of pain around 1-2 months after the procedure.

Patients typically improve for up to 6 months following the procedure. Overall, 75-80% of our patients have had significant pain relief and improved function of the joint following the procedure(s). There have not been many studies of the long term outcomes of stem cell procedures reported in the literature although the safety of these procedures has been tracked for many years with few complications reported.
Can I fly / drive home that day?
What is the cost?

The cost can vary, but the final cost of the treatment(s) will ultimately be determined by what particular injections are being done.

You can first speak with one of our financial counselors about payment options. He or she will work with you to determine if your insurance will pay for the treatment or if you will need to pay out of pocket for the treatment.
Where are the treatments performed?
What should I do if I think I’m a candidate?

If you live within 3 hours of Atlanta, we will schedule a consultation for an appointment to review your radiology films (x-rays), conduct a physical exam, and determine if you are a good candidate or not.

If you live more than 3 hours away, please work with your local health care professional to send us the following:

Download and print this form. Complete it and include with the other records you are sending. Recent x-rays, no more than a few months old, are required. Please see below for the type of x-ray views needed for the effected body parts.

Hip - Standing AP pelvis and frog lateral
Knee - Standing bilateral AP and lateral
Ankle - Standing AP, lateral and oblique
Shoulder - Grashey and axillary lateral
Thumb - AP, lateral and oblique
Recent MRI if available, no more than a few months old
Medical records (only pertaining to your injury for which you are seeking treatment)
Send your images and records to us for review - please include your name, address, phone number and email address. We will contact you with our recommendation within 7-14 business days of receiving your records.

Send your documents and images to:

Emory Sports Medicine Complex
1968 Hawks Lane, Suite 200
Brookhaven, GA 30329

Quicklinks

Sports Medicine Treatments