“Injecting PRP and stem cells into degenerated spinal discs is relatively new. While we are still learning about the best way to apply these new modalities, early research has shown promising results in the treatment of chronic back pain,” said Dr. Meier. “Prolotherapy, on the other hand, has been used for decades in treating chronic painful conditions. My team and I have found that we obtain the best results when combining these techniques.”
Here are five key notes:
1. The patient treated suffered from degenerative disc disease. The patient had their stem cells harvested from bone marrow and then injected directly into the lumbar disc.
2. Dr. Meier performed the injection under fluoroscopic guidance.
3. After the disc injection, Dr. Meier treated the sacroiliac joints with PRP prolotherapy, which has been shown to induce collagen production to stimulate healing and ligament regeneration.
4. The regenerative therapy is relatively new in orthopedics and spine, but has shown promise in treating sports injuries.
5. Dr. Meier is an orthopedic surgeon and a sports medicine physician who graduated from Loyola Medical School and completed his fellowship at the University of California San Diego.
More articles on spine surgery:
Minimally invasive SI joint fusion snags coverage from another Medicare contractor: 5 things to know
5 things to know about lumbar discectomy for disc herniation
5 things to know on disc degeneration after scoliosis spinal fusion
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