At Rejuvenate Orthopedics & Regenerative Medicine, we believe patients should understand the science behind the treatments they are considering. Orthobiologic therapies use components obtained from a patient’s own blood or bone marrow and are being studied for a variety of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions.
Some treatments, particularly platelet-rich plasma (PRP), have been evaluated in numerous randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews. Other treatments, including bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), have a growing but smaller body of clinical research.
Our approach is to evaluate the available evidence, identify the condition being treated, select appropriate patients, and use precise image-guided techniques when indicated.
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate is prepared from bone marrow obtained from the patient, most commonly from the iliac crest. BMC contains platelets, growth factors, signaling proteins, and a variety of nucleated cells. It has been studied for conditions including knee and hip osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders.
*Individual results vary. Studies do not guarantee similar outcomes for Rejuvenate patients.*
Osteoarthritis involves more than the cartilage surface. Changes can also occur within the subchondral bone immediately beneath the cartilage. In selected patients, bone marrow concentrate may be placed into targeted areas of subchondral bone rather than exclusively into the joint.
*Individual results vary. Studies do not guarantee similar outcomes for Rejuvenate patients.*
PRP is prepared from a patient’s own blood and processed to create plasma containing a higher concentration of platelets than circulating whole blood. Activated platelets release signaling proteins and growth factors involved in the body’s natural healing response. Among currently used orthopedic orthobiologic treatments, PRP has one of the largest clinical research bases.
*Individual results vary. Studies do not guarantee similar outcomes for Rejuvenate patients.*
Injectable platelet-rich fibrin is another blood-derived orthobiologic preparation. PRF differs from traditional PRP in both its processing method and fibrin structure. Compared with PRP, orthopedic clinical research involving injectable PRF remains less developed. For that reason, PRF is considered an area of emerging orthobiologic research.
*Individual results vary. Studies do not guarantee similar outcomes for Rejuvenate patients.*
Responsible interpretation of medical research requires looking at the entire body of evidence. For example, the RESTORE randomized clinical trial published in JAMA evaluated 288 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Patients received either three weekly leukocyte-poor PRP injections or saline placebo injections. At 12 months, PRP did not demonstrate a statistically significant advantage over placebo for the study’s primary knee-pain or cartilage-volume outcomes.
PubMed PMID: 3481286
PRP, BMC and PRF are not single standardized pharmaceutical products. Study protocols can differ in patient selection, diagnosis and disease severity, platelet and leukocyte concentration, bone marrow aspiration technique,cellular composition, processing method, injection volume, number of treatments, treatment location, image guidance and rehabilitation. A positive outcome involving one preparation or protocol does not necessarily mean every PRP, BMC or PRF preparation will produce the same result.
Orthobiologic treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. Treatment recommendations are based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination, diagnosis, imaging when appropriate, previous treatment, functional limitations and individual goals. When appropriate, musculoskeletal ultrasound may be used to evaluate the involved anatomy and guide treatment to the intended target
*Orthobiologic therapies remain an evolving area of medicine. The quality and quantity of research vary depending on the treatment, diagnosis, and application. Individual outcomes vary. No orthobiologic treatment can guarantee elimination of pain, regeneration of cartilage or other tissue, prevention of future surgery, return to a particular sport or activity, or a specific degree or duration of improvement.
The information presented on this page is intended for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of treatment effectiveness or as a substitute for individualized medical evaluation.*