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An article from a Lodge 7 Magazine sponsor
Revolutionary advancements being made in stem cell treatments
We are in the midst of an advancement revolu- tion in medical treatment that is arguably the greatest since the discovery of penicillin and antibiotics by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
only for the minority, which are complete tears. For partial ro- tator cuff tears, our success rate is well over 80 percent. We have not had a patient go on to a full thickness tear after treatment and require surgery, whereas this can be precipitated by cortisone injections, for example. Treat-
Real cures are now on the horizon for au- toimmune disease, neurodegenerative dis-
orders, cancer and other conditions based
on stem cell treatment and harnessing the healing power within each patient’s own im- mune system. These treatments will, and already
are, replacing drugs and surgery.
I have a vision for the future of healthcare that is based on ad-
vances being made in stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments. This is part of regenerative medicine, which is the study of utilizing tissue engineering and molecular biology to deal with the process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function. Stem cell treatment programs are currently in place at many of the nation’s leading clinics and hospitals.
I always prefer nonsurgical approaches when they are effec- tive. And orthopedics is one of the few remaining disciplines where you can be both physician and surgeon. With nearly 4,000 stem cell and PRP treatments as part of a prospective study using validated joint-specific rating scores, we have what I believe to be the largest such study database in existence by a single orthopedic surgeon.
This treatment harvests autologous mesenchymal stem cells from the patient. These are partially differentiated stem cells from your body that are active in cartilage, tendon, ligament and bone repair. They are not fetal or embryonic.
We use these stem cells primarily for osteoarthritic joints as an alternative to joint replacement for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis, as well as peripheral vascular disease. PRP primarily is used for tendon injuries, such as par- tial tears of the rotator cuff, Achilles tendon, tennis elbow and patellar tendons, and for less severe arthritis as an alternative to surgery and cortisone.
Most of the arthritis patients we see, whether of the knee, hip, shoulder or ankle, are able to avoid painful joint replacement surgery with stem cell and PRP treatment for a period of years.
These treatments, using the patient’s own tissue, are ex- tremely safe and nearly painless. They burn no bridges if joint replacement surgery is needed later. In moderate arthritis, about 80 percent of patients respond to these treatments and do not need joint replacement. In bone-on-bone joints, re- sponse is only about 50 percent; however, this is one of the only treatments besides joint replacement that has some efficacy and often can be maintained for years.
Most shoulder pain comes from the rotator cuff. Most of these tears are partial. Through the use of stem cell and PRP, virtually all of these patients have been able to avoid surgery, which is often ineffective for partial tears. We reserve surgery
ment is also effective for arthritis in most shoulders. We have found that for knees, restoring motion be- fore injection is quite helpful, so we will often get this accomplished before beginning treatment. Stopping nonste- roidal anti-inflammatory drugs — such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, diclofenac and meloxicam — also improves results, since these drugs interfere with healing. They also mask symptoms in addition to often being highly toxic with chronic use. We also prescribe nutritional supplements — such as glucosamine/ chondroitin, boswellic acid, curcumin, Pycnogenol, collagen and MSM — individualized for each patient, which can reduce
symptoms and generally are quite safe.
My dream has been to open a truly multidisciplinary, inde-
pendent, research-based stem cell institute where all options for stem cell treatment are made available to patients based on their particular condition. Nothing like that has previous- ly existed. We are well on the way toward making that a reality through the Prodromos Stem Cell Institute.
Leading affiliated practitioners at our institute offer treat- ment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple scle- rosis (MS), retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and oth- er retinal diseases.
Arrangements are being made to begin proven safe stem cell treatment for lung disease including pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), psoriasis, erec- tile dysfunction, diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn’s disease and ul- cerative colitis, paralytic spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s dis- ease, and plastic surgical problems — in addition to work with arthritis, tendon injury, spine disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus arthritis and diabetic vascular disease.
As new treatments prove effective, they will be incorporated into our medicines, equipment and techniques available to a medical practitioner. And for some disorders such as MS, there are multiple types of treatment with proven safety and efficacy each with its own advantages and disadvantages that can be of- fered to patients.
Dr. Chad Prodromos is president of the Illinois Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Centers, with locations in Glenview, Chicago and Naples, Florida. He was an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center for 27 years and med- ical director of the Illinois Orthopaedic Foundation. He is editor in chief of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science, which is the primary textbook available on this subject for orthopedic surgeons.
DR. CHAD PRODROMOS
52 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2020
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