Stem Cell Therapy in Los Angeles

What Is Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine harnesses the body’s natural healing potential to recover from injuries. Stem cell therapy is a key component of regenerative medicine, offering a powerful way to promote tissue repair and regeneration.

Stem cells are unique because they can differentiate into various tissue types, including bone, tendon, ligament, cartilage, muscle, and skin. In some tissues, like bone marrow, stem cells continuously work to repair and replace damaged tissues. Dr. Soomekh’s expertise in stem cell therapy ensures that patients receive state-of-the-art treatment for foot and ankle conditions.

At Foot and Ankle Specialty Group, we embrace the art and science of orthobiologics, which combines the body’s natural ability to heal itself with stem cells and advanced medical technologies to repair and regenerate orthopedic injuries. By definition, orthobiologics refers to the inclusion of biology and biochemistry in the development of bone and soft tissue replacement materials for skeletal and tissue healing.

The use of stem cell therapy in foot and ankle treatments — both in clinical and surgical settings — is rapidly increasing. Physicians and surgeons continually seek better ways to accelerate healing while incorporating less invasive techniques. Over the last several years, Dr. Soomekh has been at the forefront of stem cell therapy for foot and ankle injuries, using it successfully to treat bone healing (fractures and fusions), tendon repair, and wound healing. Stem cell therapy has been extensively studied and utilized for over four decades, with its effectiveness based on the ability of stem cells to enhance the healing of bone and soft tissue at a cellular level.

How Can Stem Cell Therapy Benefit Foot and Ankle Conditions?

Stem cell therapy is an innovative treatment for various chronic and acute foot and ankle conditions, including:

• Arthritis of the Big Toe Joint
• Arthritis of the Ankle Joint
• Cartilage Replacement
• Joint Fusion Surgery
• Revision Surgery
• Fracture Repair
• Nonunion of Bone Repair
• Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
• Chronic Achilles Tendinosis
• Chronic Joint Pain and Arthritis
• Chronic Tendon Tears
• Chronic Ankle Ligament Tears
• Chronic Wounds
• Plantar Plate Tea

Patients who have failed conservative treatments are often ideal candidates for stem cell therapy. It serves as a non-surgical alternative that bridges the gap between conservative treatments and surgery, offering a natural way to enhance healing and reduce pain.

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The Science Behind Stem Cells

Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves and undergoing cell differentiation to transform into specific cell types. These regenerative cells are found in bone marrow and fat tissue and play a crucial role in healing and tissue regeneration.

When introduced to an area of injury, stem cells:

• Stimulate the body’s natural healing response
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote the growth of new tissue
• Improve overall joint and soft tissue health

The Stem Cell Collection Process

Collecting bone marrow aspirate (BMA) for stem cell therapy is a simple and minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in-office or in a surgical setting. The process takes approximately 20 minutes and involves the following steps:

1. Local anesthesia is applied to numb the skin and underlying tissue.
2. A small incision is made near the heel bone or the front of the leg.
3. A needle is inserted into the bone marrow to extract stem cells.
4. The bone marrow is processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells.
5. The stem cells are injected directly into the injured area.

Human Amniotic Stem Cell Therapy

A breakthrough in stem cell therapy is the use of human amniotic stem cells, which are derived from the amniotic sac and fluid. These cells contain additional regenerative components that adult bone marrow stem cells do not, making them highly effective in wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Key Benefits of Amniotic Stem Cells:

• Reduce scar tissue formation
• Enhance tissue regeneration
• Improve surgical outcomes
• Provide a non-invasive treatment option