Stem cell treatment knee arthritis Chennai
To know what is stem cell treatment for knee arthritis in Chennai, see this video presentation that was delivered at a medical college in Chennai, India three years ago.

What are stem cells?

Cells that are capable of regenerating and replicating and repairing tissues are known as stem cells. They are present in every organ and tissue in the human body like skin, fat, bone marrow, muscle, and heart, everywhere, but they are dormant and can be kicked into action by external methods either by the response to a trauma or by seeding the damaged area with stem cells by injection or open procedure.

This is the classification of stem cells. At the top, you have the totipotent embryonic stem cell which is formed by the fusion of the sperm to the ova. This results in a zygote and the formation of a blastocyst which further differentiates into two cells four-cell then the embryo and the fetus and so on. The totipotent embryonic stem cell gives rise to pluripotent embryonic stem cells which form various tissues. These pluripotent stem cells then give rise to multipotent stem cells which are present in every tissue like the lung, pancreas, heart muscle, red blood cells skin muscle bone marrow, and every other tissue. These are not confined to the mesenchymal space.

How do we isolate stem cells?

We aspirate them from fat by liposuction. Then we manipulate them by centrifuging. Then they are ready for injection.

Stem cell treatment for knee arthritis in India by Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam is done as an outpatient procedure. The patient can return home within a few hours. If spinal anesthesia is given, then discharge takes longer.

The cells can also be isolated like before and sent off to a tissue bank where they are cultured and stored.  By this, their number is expanded to several million and they can be kept in cold storage for longer periods. Certain tissues have got a half-life but some tissues can be stored for a long time.  Their potency decreases after one year. So, when these cells are expanded, they can be returned to the doctor to be re-injected into the patient.

How do I apply or treat damaged areas of cartilage and bone?

See this procedure here 

One can apply it to the cartilage lesion by arthroscopic or open surgery. Here the joint is inspected through an arthroscope, and the area of damage is prepared by shaving and microfracture. Then the cells are made into a paste with fibrin glue and applied to the cartilage lesion. It is shaped with a spatula. Then the joint is put through a range of movements for the glue to set in five minutes. Then the patient is returned to the ward for observation. He/She will remain non-weight bearing and can resume activities full weight-bearing activities after six weeks. This procedure is usually done for single or one or two cartridge lesions.  It does not apply to osteoarthritis wherein I use fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance for injections.

This is a picture of a slide with seeded chondrocytes

What is the mechanism of action for stem cell treatment of knee arthritis in Chennai?

They have a trophic effect which means they stimulate growth via the secretion of cytokines and growth factors that is when the cells are injected into a joint these growth factors are released and they have the potency or capability of stimulating adjacent cells in the joint to differentiate and form cartilage. These differentiating cells, when stimulated by growth factors, will go ahead and repair areas of damaged cartilage, and limited cartilage repair are possible; not a complete repair in the case of bone on bone.

The cells possess an immune modulatory effect even when injected even from an allergenic source. They erect a barrier between themselves and the native person’s immune system and perform their function without any interference from the destructive and deleterious effects of the immune system like T cells. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. When injected into swollen inflamed joints, they put a brake on inflammation.

After that, there will be continuous improvement.

Antibiotic effect – There is no need for a person to worry when stem cells are injected. They are not at risk of developing a joint infection like septic arthritis of the knee. This is because of the antibiotic effect present in the stem cells themselves.

Self-replication effect- they can replicate as themselves or replication differentiate into further cell types.

They have an anti-aging effect.

What is the role of Stem cells in orthopedic surgery?

The commonest indication is nonunion.  In small non-unions stem cells can be injected which can promote union.

Articular cartilage damage in the knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle joints can be treated with stem cells.  When stem cells are injected into areas of cartilage damage, they can repair cartilage. They can also repair osteochondral defects when inserted in the form of a bone plug.

Osteoarthritis -When there is widespread cartilage of ICRS grade 3 grade or 2, stem cells can help to halt the ongoing osteoarthritis process and lead to limited repair. Patients can get sustained pain relief for a few years.

Avascular necrosis is commonly seen in the hip joint, and it is bilateral. It can result from steroid intake, alcohol, Gaucher’s disease, and deep-sea diving. Blood disorders like sickle cell anemia can result in avascular necrosis. Avascular necrosis in the early stages can be treated with stem cells.

Stem cells can also promote wound dealing like in diabetic ulcers or chronic ulcers

Advantage of fat over bone marrow.

I injected Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) derived from fat.  Earlier I used bone marrow. Fat has several advantages over bone marrow enumerated here.

Bone marrow has fewer stem cells than fat, Fat contains 500 to 2000 times more MSCs than the same volume of bone marrow. Fat cells have the highest proliferation potential, and the cells are younger than bone marrow. in old older people, it may be difficult to obtain cells from the bone marrow because there is osteoporosis. In addition, fat also contains numerous other regenerative cells that are important to the healing process.

A further advantage of fat is that it is less painful. I can aspirate it from the thigh and the patient can go home within a few hours,

Anticoagulants are not required. If you take bone marrow, then you have to treat it immediately with heparin and inject heparin into the bone to prevent it from clotting while being aspirated. This can result in an overdose or leakage of the anticoagulant solution into the adjacent tissue. Bone marrow aspiration from the posterior part of the iliac crest can result in penetration and spread of the heparin in retroperitoneal space, leading to retroperitoneal hematoma.

Cells derived from fat are a better source for articular cartilage repair.

What is the benefit of stem cell treatment for knee arthritis in Chennai?

Some patients have been able to get prolonged pain relief and have postponed knee replacement. The longest follow-up stem cell treatment for the knee is seven years.

See a patient’s testimonial here-

In the short term, they can avoid taking NSAIDs, painkillers, and opioids. They will lead a better quality of life.

So, if you want Stem Cell Treatment for Knee arthritis in Chennai India Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam, click the form, fill it out, and post. You can locate my practice by clicking on this link

Call – 7824003400 or the hospital – 044 42938938

Email -drvenkat@kneeindia.com