By Dr Harpreet Singh
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. Also known as “wear-and-tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease, it occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of our bones gradually wears away. This causes the bones to rub against each other, leading to:
- Pain
- Stiffness and reduced mobility
- Difficulty in walking
- Functional decline
Resulting in a reduced quality of life.
The overall prevalence of osteoarthritis is rising, especially in the ageing population. But nowadays, it is also commonly seen in young adults and is termed as an early onset of OA. The causes of developing OA are multiple. Key factors for developing OA of the knee are:
- Joint injuries
- Obesity, a strong contributor to both onset and progression
- Poor dietary intake, particularly deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D
- Occupational strain
- High-impact sports and activities
- Family history in some cases may also be a contributing factor
Prevention is centered around:
- Lifestyle modification
- Maintaining healthy weight
- Regular low-impact exercises like swimming and cycling
- Muscle strengthening of quadriceps and hamstrings
- Adequate dietary intake of Calcium and vitamin D
Treatment of early and moderate cases includes:
- Judicious use of analgesics
- Physiotherapy
- Unloading braces
- Medication like undenatured collagen
- Hyaluronic acid injections- lubricating injections
These conventional therapies primarily provide symptomatic relief without reversing disease progression. In advanced cases, total knee replacement remains the gold standard of treatment.
Regenerative Medicine:
Recent advances in regenerative medicine have led to the development of cell-based therapies aimed at modifying disease progression itself. These are also referred to as Orthobiologics – biologically derived substances used to support or enhance healing of musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative joint diseases.
Examples of orthobiologics include:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Growth Factor Concentrate (GFC)
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC)
- Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Each has its role in different disorders and its own advantages and limitations.
Stem Cell Therapy:
Stem cells are the body’s foundational building blocks – unspecialised “master cells” that can divide continuously to renew themselves and transform into specific, functional cell types. They act as an internal repair system, regenerating damaged or ageing tissues throughout your life.
Stem cell therapy in the knee helps by:
- Promoting healing and regeneration of damaged cartilage
- Reducing pain
- Improving joint function
- Delaying or preventing the need for knee replacement
The procedure of injecting cells is minimally invasive and safe. It is best suited for patients with Grade 2 and Grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee with moderate cartilage damage, who are looking to delay or avoid invasive surgical intervention, along with long-term pain relief and improved mobility, function, and quality of life.
How is it administered:
Once the patient is scheduled for injection, the order for stem cell injections is placed 48 to 72 hours prior to the date of injection. The injection is transported in a cryoshipper from Bangalore. The cryoshipper contains a cryovial maintained at a temperature below -185°C.
The patient is requested to come to the hospital one hour prior to the injection for pre-medication. The injection is given in a fully sterile OT using aseptic techniques. The crystal zenith vial is removed from the cryobox, thawed to 37°C, and then injected into the joint. It is a pain-free procedure. The patient is kept in the hospital for 30 minutes after the injection for observation. The entire process takes approximately 1.5 hours.
This injection is a landmark achievement in Indian biotechnology — a completely “Made in India” product developed indigenously by Stempeutics Research and approved by DCGI for Grade II and Grade III osteoarthritis of the knee.
Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee is now available at Jeevan Jyoti Clinic (NABH approved hospital for Ophthalmology and Orthopaedic services), Turner Road, by Dr Saurabh Mehra, Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Contact Number: 9358132617
(The author is a senior orthopaedic surgeon at Jeevan Jyoti Clinic, Turner Road, Dehradun.)
