Orthobiologics in Malden & Stoneham, MA

Orthobiologics is an innovative technique for treating human illness by replacing or regenerating human tissues in order to restore normal function. Under the right circumstances, normally occurring biologic products can be taken from the patients and used to induce the healing process. In orthopedic care, these techniques have been used to treat conditions like tendinitis, ligament strains and arthritic conditions.

Orthobiologics, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy are all regenerative medicine treatment options that are available to you and can be performed in an office setting. If medical techniques such as physical therapy and injections are not providing relief, orthobiologics is often a good option before considering a surgical approach.

Unlike most physician practices, Agility Orthopedics is the only orthopedic practice in New England credentialed and certified to perform these orthobiologics procedures under ultrasound guidance. This ensures accurate placement of these healing agents and provides the best chance of success.  Although they don’t replace surgery, these new materials and techniques offer yet another cutting-edge choice for patients when standard treatments have failed to produce the desired result.

There are two main categories of orthopedic disease that can be treated with orthobiologics:

1. Disorders of the tendons, muscles and ligaments. These are the tissues that connect our bones together and allow us to move our joints.
2. Osteoarthritis, which is a wearing away of the cartilage in our joints.

The way in which orthobiologics work in these two disorders is very different.

Tendonitis

In the case of tendonitis and some ligament and muscle strains, injuries usually heal on their own or with the help of physical therapy. When tissue breaks down from overuse, healing factors need to get to the location where the breakdown is occurring. Sometimes, the body is not able to get the healing factors to this location which prevents the body from getting better.

Examples that you may be familiar with include Achilles tendinitis or tennis elbow otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis. By injecting orthobiologics like PRP or stem cells we are introducing healing factors to the site of the problem and thus encouraging a healing response to occur. In these disorders, orthobiologics can sometimes provide amazing cures when the only other alternative would have been surgery.