antiquity
10-17-2002, 05:31 PM
American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Adult Stem Cells In Orthopaedic Surgery Currently Producing Positive Results - Holds Potential For Future Scientific Breakthrough
ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Orthopaedics Update 2002 Web conference, Joseph Iannotti, MD chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, "Adult stem cells have not only proven to be effective in bone healing today, they hold great promise for the future of orthopaedics - especially in the areas of reconstructing all types of tissues, as well as improving the healing of diseased tissues."
A stem cell can be thought of as a blank slate with the ability to become any type of cell to form skin, bones, organs or other body parts. What makes a person alive is the continuous regeneration of these cells. Adult stem cells, already present in the human body, differ from embryonic stem cells in that they are derived from living bone, tissue, muscle and fat and not from an embryo.
Dr. Iannotti explained that mesenchymal stem cells are the type of cells that depending on the maturation process can become bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow, tendon/ligament and connective tissue. These cells are harvested from bone marrow in the pelvis via a syringe. Approximately 100 milliliters of bone marrow fluid when processed will yield 1 tablespoon containing 800 million cells of which 40,000 are mesanchymal stem cells.
"Stem cell therapy can be especially effective when there is a non-union situation," said Iannotti. "For example, a young man whose leg had still not healed fully after a year of treatment showed vast improvement just 3 months after undergoing an adult stem cell therapy."
In addition to non-unions (bone fractures that do not heal), adult stem cells are currently being used to treat a variety of clinical conditions including large segmental defects, bone fractures or wounds that have severe scarring, infections, or avascular tissue with a poor blood supply, and the effects of irradiation and chemotherapy.
Recent data analysis shows that in more than 700 patients who underwent a stem cell harvesting procedure from the pelvis, there was no complaint of pain and only 2 bruises. This is of great benefit to the patient because it reduces the risk of morbidity associated with complications that may arise in the harvesting of autogenous cancellous bone from other areas of the patient's body. Other benefits to the patient of utilizing a stem cell procedure include minimal scarring and decreased blood loss.
Research on human adult stem cells suggests great potential for use in the development of tissue and cartilage regeneration especially in the area of transplantation. Isolating adult stem cells from a patient, directing their specialization and then transplanting them back into the patient would be extremely advantageous because it is unlikely that the cells would be rejected. Research is currently underway towards achieving this goal. Once accomplished it will be a true scientific breakthrough that has the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
The 26,000 member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ( www.aaos.org (http://www.aaos.org) ) or (
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org ), is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade ( www.boneandjointdecade.org/us (http://www.boneandjointdecade.org/us) ), the global initiative in the years 2002- 2011 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002- 2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives.
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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
-0- 10/16/2002
/CONTACT: Todd Schuetz, +1-847-384-4032 schuetz@aaos.org , or Mindy Weinstein, +1-847-384-4035, weinstein@aaos.org , both of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/
/Web site: http://www.aaos.orghttp://orthoinfo.aaos.orghttp://www.boneandjointdecade.org/us /
ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Orthopaedics Update 2002 Web conference, Joseph Iannotti, MD chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, "Adult stem cells have not only proven to be effective in bone healing today, they hold great promise for the future of orthopaedics - especially in the areas of reconstructing all types of tissues, as well as improving the healing of diseased tissues."
A stem cell can be thought of as a blank slate with the ability to become any type of cell to form skin, bones, organs or other body parts. What makes a person alive is the continuous regeneration of these cells. Adult stem cells, already present in the human body, differ from embryonic stem cells in that they are derived from living bone, tissue, muscle and fat and not from an embryo.
Dr. Iannotti explained that mesenchymal stem cells are the type of cells that depending on the maturation process can become bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow, tendon/ligament and connective tissue. These cells are harvested from bone marrow in the pelvis via a syringe. Approximately 100 milliliters of bone marrow fluid when processed will yield 1 tablespoon containing 800 million cells of which 40,000 are mesanchymal stem cells.
"Stem cell therapy can be especially effective when there is a non-union situation," said Iannotti. "For example, a young man whose leg had still not healed fully after a year of treatment showed vast improvement just 3 months after undergoing an adult stem cell therapy."
In addition to non-unions (bone fractures that do not heal), adult stem cells are currently being used to treat a variety of clinical conditions including large segmental defects, bone fractures or wounds that have severe scarring, infections, or avascular tissue with a poor blood supply, and the effects of irradiation and chemotherapy.
Recent data analysis shows that in more than 700 patients who underwent a stem cell harvesting procedure from the pelvis, there was no complaint of pain and only 2 bruises. This is of great benefit to the patient because it reduces the risk of morbidity associated with complications that may arise in the harvesting of autogenous cancellous bone from other areas of the patient's body. Other benefits to the patient of utilizing a stem cell procedure include minimal scarring and decreased blood loss.
Research on human adult stem cells suggests great potential for use in the development of tissue and cartilage regeneration especially in the area of transplantation. Isolating adult stem cells from a patient, directing their specialization and then transplanting them back into the patient would be extremely advantageous because it is unlikely that the cells would be rejected. Research is currently underway towards achieving this goal. Once accomplished it will be a true scientific breakthrough that has the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
The 26,000 member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ( www.aaos.org (http://www.aaos.org) ) or (
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org ), is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade ( www.boneandjointdecade.org/us (http://www.boneandjointdecade.org/us) ), the global initiative in the years 2002- 2011 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002- 2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives.
Make Your Opinion Count - Click Here
SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
-0- 10/16/2002
/CONTACT: Todd Schuetz, +1-847-384-4032 schuetz@aaos.org , or Mindy Weinstein, +1-847-384-4035, weinstein@aaos.org , both of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/
/Web site: http://www.aaos.orghttp://orthoinfo.aaos.orghttp://www.boneandjointdecade.org/us /