Osteochondrosis — Treatment With Stem Cell in the Best Hospitals of Germany
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Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine Frankfurt am Main
Department of Alternative Medicine
The Department of Alternative Medicine specializes in the treatment of various types of cancer and chronic diseases using the methods of integrative medicine. The department belongs to few medical facilities in Germany, which offer individual treatment regimens using biological and integrative techniques. The department has state-of-the-art medical technologies, as well as a multidisciplinary team of competent specialists in various medical fields, including therapists, oncologists, gynecologists, urologists, orthopedists, nephrologists, surgeons, cardiologists and others. In addition, the department has a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.
Department of Orthopedics
The Department of Orthopedics offers the comprehensive diagnostics using high-precision imaging equipment, as well as conservative and surgical treatments for all diseases, injuries and functional limitations of the musculoskeletal system. The department uses the very latest treatment methods, such as acupuncture, autohemotherapy, PRP therapy, shockwave therapy, K-Taping therapy, etc. In the field of surgical treatment, the preference is always given to minimally invasive, endoscopic and arthroscopic operations.
Department of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
The Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Surgery and Sports Traumatology offers the full range of medical services in these focuses. The competent team of the department provides high-quality diagnostics and treatment of foot, ankle, elbow, shoulder, knee and hip diseases. Also, the department specializes in the treatment of spinal diseases and sports traumatology.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Foot Surgery and Hand Surgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Foot Surgery and Hand Surgery provides the full range of medical services in the areas of its specialization. The focus of the team of doctors at the medical facility is on patients with pathologies of large joints, including the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle, and wrist joints. The department's special offer is autologous cartilage transplantation, which is performed by a very limited number of medical centers in Europe. This innovative surgical technique allows doctors to cure knee, hip, ankle, and shoulder arthrosis. With more than 700 interventions of this kind annually, the department's specialists are deservedly proud of their successful results and professional skills in this field. The department also treats foot and hand diseases, including hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, flat feet, hollow feet, Morton's neuroma, rhizarthrosis, Dupuytren's contracture, trigger fingers, and other pathologies. Surgical interventions for musculoskeletal diseases in adults and children are performed in two high-tech operating rooms that were opened in May 2020. In most cases, the department's doctors manage to perform low-traumatic operations, after which patients recover quickly and leave the hospital as soon as possible. The department performs more than 2,500 interventions annually. The department's team strives to provide patients with top-class medical services in a pleasant and friendly environment.
Department of Orthopedics and Hand Surgery
The Department of Orthopedics and Hand Surgery offers a wide range of orthopedic treatment. The department is mainly focused on hip and knee endoprosthetics as well as all kinds of diseases of the hand, elbow, shoulder, foot and ankle. Generally, the department treats all diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Depending on the diagnosis, each patient receives an individually developed treatment program.
Department of Orthopedics and Surgery
The Department of Orthopedics and Surgery offers the full range of services in these focuses. The department specializes in the surgical treatment of elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and hernias. The medical team of the department performs many spinal surgeries. Particular attention is paid to both diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases, foot diseases and other disorders in this field.
Department of Orthopedics
The Department of Orthopedics provides the full range of medical services in the areas of its specialization. The medical facility specializes in the prevention, diagnostics and treatment of all musculoskeletal diseases. The department's diagnostic options include ultrasound examination, digital X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, 3D spine and posture analysis, and gait analysis. When treating orthopedic diseases, the department's doctors use both conservative techniques and surgical interventions with the focus on minimally invasive operations to avoid severe trauma to healthy tissues. In addition, the department offers the very latest methods of biological therapy (molecular orthopedics), which allow achieving excellent results in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatic joint injuries, inflammatory and degenerative processes in the joints and spine. Biological therapy is a modern alternative to the surgical treatment of the above mentioned pathologies, when conservative therapeutic procedures do not give the desired result. The work of the specialists of the medical facility is based on an individual approach to each patient, therefore, during the development of a treatment regimen, doctors always take into account the particular clinical indicators of the patient. The department's medical team makes every effort to provide the patient with high-quality and maximally sparing treatment, after which he will forget about pain and movement restrictions.
Department of Arthroscopy, Shoulder, Hand Surgery and Sports Traumatology
The Department of Arthroscopy, Shoulder, Hand Surgery and Sports Traumatology offers the full range of conservative and surgical treatment of shoulder, hand diseases, knee arthroscopy. A separate focus is placed on sports traumatology, in the field of which the chief physician of the department has a unique long experience.
Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Surgical Orthopedics
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Surgical Orthopedics offers the full range of services in these medical focuses. It provides an accurate diagnostics and an effective treatment of diseases of the ankle, hip, knee and shoulder. The department's range of services also covers hand, foot surgery and treatment of other conditions in this field.
Back pain is often caused by degenerative changes in the intervertebral joints. They begin in the third decade of life, and the age group 45-64 years has the highest prevalence of osteochondrosis. Most patients do not want to undergo surgical treatment, preferring conservative therapy. If standard methods no longer help control back pain, you can have stem cell therapy. This innovative technique allows patients to get good long-term results. And what is more, it is effective even for severe osteochondrosis. On the Booking Health website, you can find out prices, choose a hospital, and make your treatment appointment for your preferred dates.
Content
- Principles of the treatment method for spinal osteochondrosis
- When can stem cells be used for spinal osteochondrosis?
- Has the effectiveness of stem cell treatment for spinal osteochondrosis been proven?
- Where to undergo your stem cell treatment for spinal osteochondrosis?
Principles of the treatment method for spinal osteochondrosis
The principle of biological treatment or prevention of spinal disc degeneration is the restoration of its hydration and cushioning properties.
Stem cells (SCs) are non-specialized cells characterized by a high rate of growth and reproduction. They are of different types. Doctors successfully use mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells, adipose tissue stem cells, muscle stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, olfactory membrane stem cells, and synovial stem cells to treat osteochondrosis. Types of adult stem cells can differentiate along the line of mesenchymal tissues, namely into bones, cartilage, adipose tissue, and muscles.
There are several therapeutic strategies for intervertebral disc repair using stem cells. These include the following:
- direct injection of undifferentiated or pre-differentiated cells into the disc (cell therapy);
- intravenous administration of stem cells;
- injection into the intervertebral disc (IVD) of structures obtained by combining stem cells with a viscoelastic hydrogel (tissue engineering);
- genetic modification, that is, a change in target genes followed by the injection of genetically modified stem cells into the intervertebral disc.
Recently, scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell by isolating them from an intervertebral disc with degenerative changes. They are similar to mesenchymal stem cells originating from the bone marrow. Today, they are used only as part of clinical trials.
When can stem cells be used for spinal osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis with mild or moderate degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs is an indication for conservative therapy. Patients receive painkillers, massage, physiotherapy, and therapeutic exercises. All these measures help to control the disease, but it still does not regress, and moreover, it often progresses as the intervertebral discs continue to degrade.
Stem cells are used when other conservative measures to relieve pain are ineffective. They provide the following results:
- stimulate the regeneration of intervertebral disc tissues;
- reduce pain for a long time;
- eliminate inflammation;
- improve the effectiveness of other conservative treatment methods.
Stem cells can be used both as monotherapy and as an addition to other therapeutic procedures and drugs. Specialists resort to this treatment option when other methods do not work and a person refuses surgery. Although long-term pain relief can also be achieved with surgery, an operation is associated with the risk of complications, discomfort, and a long recovery, while stem cell treatment takes a minimum of time, helps to get a good long-term result, and avoids surgery. Moreover, the procedure is completely safe. If the effect weakens over time, stem cell injections can be repeated.
In medicine, different types of stem cells are used, but those from blood, adipose tissue, and bone marrow are the most common ones for the treatment of osteochondrosis. They are usually injected into tissue in the area of the spine that is the source of pain. These can be intervertebral discs, facet joints, or sacroiliac joints.
Treatment is not standardized and can consist of a single injection of stem cells or several injections at intervals of 4-8 weeks. Stem cells are harvested from different patients' tissues. They can be cultivated or frozen, but, more often than not, they are used fresh, and the injection is carried out within a short time after stem cell harvesting.
Has the effectiveness of stem cell treatment for spinal osteochondrosis been proven?
The effectiveness of stem cells for osteochondrosis is not conclusively proven, so the therapy is not considered standard. However, more and more trials are being carried out around the world on the treatment of the spine with the help of stem cells, and there is more and more evidence of the effectiveness of cell therapy.
A review of 21 trials was published in 2018. In 12 cases, stem cells were injected into the lumbar intervertebral discs, in 5 cases, they were injected into the epidural space, and in 3 trials, injections were made into the facet joints of the lumbar spine. Stem cells were injected into the sacroiliac joints in the other three trials. Summarizing the results obtained, the authors of the review concluded that stem cells are effective in the treatment of lower back pain of discogenic origin, radicular pain, facet joint pain, and sacroiliac joint pain.
Some medical organizations already recommend the use of stem cells for osteochondrosis as the main or additional method. For example, in 2019, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) published guidelines for the responsible, safe, and effective use of biologics for the treatment of lower back pain. After reviewing the available evidence for effectiveness, the ASIPP concluded that regenerative therapies (including stem cells and platelet-rich plasma) can be used as a stand-alone treatment method or in combination with other therapies, including a structured program with exercises, physiotherapy, behavioral therapy, and drug therapy.
In 2022, the results of a placebo-controlled trial were published, in which patients received injections of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The monitoring period was 12 months. After the injection, patients received a long-term result: pain relief of 2 points or more persisted for 3 months in 74% of patients, for 6 months in 66% of patients, and in 56% of patients after 12 months. In the control group, pain relief after the injection of placebo instead of stem cells was achieved in only 8% of cases. What is most remarkable is that this trial included only patients with severe pain and severe degenerative changes in the spine that affected the intervertebral discs, facet joints, nerve roots, and sacroiliac joint. This suggests that stem cells work even in severe cases when surgery is an alternative to their use.
Where to undergo your stem cell treatment for spinal osteochondrosis?
Since stem cell therapy has not yet become widespread in the world, the method is not used in all countries. It is, however, already being used in developed countries, including Germany. You are welcome to use the Booking Health service if you want to undergo your stem cell treatment for osteochondrosis. On our website, you can find out the cost of treatment and compare prices at different German clinics to choose a medical care program at the best price.
Treatment in Germany has the following benefits:
- accurate diagnostics help determine the sources of pain in the case of osteochondrosis;
- vast experience in the use of stem cells for the treatment of osteochondrosis;
- safe cell therapy;
- adequate anesthesia for all procedures, including injections into the intervertebral discs or facet joints, and harvesting stem cells from the bone marrow;
- combination of cell therapy with other modern conservative methods for osteochondrosis treatment;
- good long-term results.
On the Booking Health website, you can select a hospital for treating your osteochondrosis with cell therapy. Here you can also check the average cost of treatment. When you make your appointment through the Booking Health service, prices for treatment will be lower than when you contact the hospital directly, due to the absence of taxes for foreign patients. Our specialists will take care of organizing your trip. They will book hotel and airline tickets, help you prepare the documents, and provide interpreting services. They will also meet you at the German airport and take you to the hospital by car.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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