We have heard “orthopedic”, but what is orthobiologics, and what does an orthobiologics specialist do? To break it down for you, orthobiologics comes from the word “ortho”, which means it is related to bones. While “biologics” are substances extracted from the patient’s body and injected for bone healing. These substances heal joints, muscles, torn ligaments and tendons.
Orthobiologics specialists use different techniques to help the body regenerate the strength of bone tissue without using invasive surgical procedures.
Procedure Used in Orthobiologics
One of the most common techniques performed by orthobiologics specialists for regenerating bone tissue and healing injuries is platelet-rich plasma or PRP. PRP is an injection that uses substances from the patient’s blood to heal the bone in a natural environment. The substances extracted contain rich proteins that are vital to the healing of many bone-related issues or injuries.
Step-by-Step PRP Procedure
- Firstly, a vial of blood is drawn from the patient’s body.
- Secondly, the orthobiologics specialist uses a centrifuge to process the blood and separate the platelets.
- The separated platelets can form up to ten times the amount of healing stimulators.
- The last step includes injecting the orthobiologic PRP into the area with the problem, leaving space for its healing process.
The best part of the procedure is the safety factor because of patient blood usage.
Stem Cell Therapy
In this orthobiologic procedure, the doctors either extract stem cells from the patient’s body or a donor body. Donor cells or the body come from donated umbilical cords that are healthy for bone regeneration.
The procedure is similar to PRP injections, except stem cells are used. The stem cells help to regenerate lost or injured tissue as a form of healing.
What Kind of Injuries Can Orthobiologic Procedures Treat?
After reading the healing methods used by orthobiologics doctors, you may be asking about the range of bone problems it can cover. So here is a list for you to refer to before you seek any of the mentioned procedures.
- Arthritis is a joint-related problem that can occur in one or multiple joints at a time. Treating arthritis with orthobiologics has proven to help patients from the pain, stiffness and swelling.
- Tendon Injuries are most common amongst sportspersons. The injury can last for weeks or months on end.
- Ligaments and muscle injuries like a sprained knee or a hamstring muscle can be effectively treated with orthobiologic procedures.
- Post-surgery recovery can also be sped up by PRP or stem cell procedures.
To Conclude –
Treatments provided by orthobiologic specialists is a minimally invasive way of treating your bones. However, the procedure takes a longer time to heal and a longer time to show results than surgical options. However, the procedures are safe for the patient, and healing time also depends on the person’s age and health.
You can expect stiffness or swell right after the injection, but it is considered a normal part of the process. The response is a sign that the fluid will start to spread over the injured area to heal.
