GUIDETO STEM CELLSTREATMENT

RIBNJAK POLYCLINICFrom the very beginning of its work, Ribnjak Polyclinic has been following global trends in the field of medicine in order to provide its clients with the

highest level of medical care.

One area of application is stem cells treatment that has been used to

successfully treat severe orthopedic problems of our clients for several

years.

Orthobiologics and regenerative medicineOrthobiologics is a vastly expanding field in orthopedic practice and includes

application of biologically active natural supstances that activate regenerative processes in the body.

Regenerative medicine is a scientific and medical discipline which focuses on reining the power of stem cells and the regenerative capacity of the body in order to restore the functioning of damaged cells, tissues and organs.

Orthobiologics may already be approaching a point when they become part of the mainstream. We are moving away from the day when we just cut bones, or implant the endoprosthesis. We are now considering the joint as an organ, taking into account molecular, tissue, and matrix issues.

OsteoarthritisDegenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis (OA), is a common “wear and tear”

condition that occurs when the joint cartilage deteriorates. The most commonly affected joints are knees, hands, hips, and spine. Numerous adults over the age of 65 are affected by degenerative joint disease. The present inflammation and structural joint damage is associated to chronic pain and loss of function. As osteoarthritis progresses, joint pain and discomfort reduce the quality of life.

Furthermore, osteoarthritis is an economic burden for patients and society. To combat this degenerative joint disease, we are using regenerative orthobiologics treatments in order to minimize the presence of pain and to escape or delay joint replacement surgery.

What are the stem cells?Stem cells are special human cells that have the ability to develop into many

different cell types. In many cases, they also have the ability to repair damaged tissues. Because of this capability, stem cells can be used in treatment in orthopedics.

Lipoaspirate/adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells, obtained via local anesthesia and vacuum-assisted lipectomy, are re-injected into the area where repair of the damaged tissue is required. There are as many as 500 times more stem cells in the adipose tissue than in the bone marrow.

The beauty of these cells is that they are able to differentiate into tissue-specific cell types. With their high proliferative potential and the ability to differentiate, along with natural growth factors obtained from the blood platelets of the patient, we stimulate biological regenerative processes in the joints, therefore restoring its function.

About stem cell treatmentThe human body contains more than 1000 different cell types with different roles,

each with an unlimited ability to divide and multiply. As the basic cell type of the human body, stem cells play a very important role.

In addition to taking care of the good functioning of the body, they build and develop our body and allow the recovery and regeneration of damaged tissue when some cells are damaged. This is precisely the source of their big potential for the treatment of many diseases.

What are they used for?We use them in many medical areas. For orthopedic treatments and sports

traumatology, the use of stem cells and autologous plasma gives visible results in the recovery of damaged soft tissues.

We use them in the treatment of:

• Damaged joint cartilage

• Muscle and tendon injuries

• Enthesopathies (tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee)

• Degenerative lesions on joints and tendons

• Slow-healing wounds

In esthetic medicine we use them to regenerate and rejuvenate the skin, to enlarge certain parts of the body and to shape the desired regions.

Adipose stem cells age much more slowlyThe use of adipose stem cells is no longer new to medicine. This method of

treatment was discovered by prof. Arnold Caplan, who is called by many a father of stem cells. This method has been used in Croatia for several years and is becoming more and more common in practice, due to its numerous advantages over other techniques.

Just as the name suggests, this technique is based on the extraction and preparation of a patient’s fatty tissue containing a large number of stem cells that are applied to the joints or soft tissue areas for regeneration purposes.

Experience and education of an orthopedic specialist in this treatment is a must.

Stem cell treatment is neither risky, invasive nor time consuming

Whatever the stem cells treatment area is, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia. As mentioned earlier, after taking a small amount of adipose tissue and purifying it, the stem cells are isolated and applied where they are needed.

The transplantation of the patient’s own tissue eliminates the possibility of tissue rejection. Therefore, the risk is non-existent, treatment is not invasive and is very fast.

There is no age limit for this procedure that would affect the result and effectiveness, and the whole process does not require hospitalization. The whole procedure can be done with a single visit to the Ribnjak Polyclinic, in just a few hours.

How to prepare for the treatment?

Before the treatment itself, our orthopedic specialists will review your medical history. It is important that you provide us with all the documentation, as well as the medical test results we may ask you to do.

If you are allergic to something, it is important that you tell us.

You should not eat anything before the procedure.

This treatment is done under local anesthesia, and you can go home only a few hours after the treatment.

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