Adult stem cells are used to treat a wide variety of conditions, from knee, shoulder and hip injuries (arthritis, tears, damaged cartilage) to lung conditions like COPD. Whether the stem cells are derived from fat (“adipose” cells), from blood, or from bone marrow has a profound effect on their suitability for treating a specific condition. For example, bone marrow cells, not fat cells, are most suitable for regenerating cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Fat cells are better suited for plastic surgery. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to choose a qualified orthopedic surgeon when selecting a stem cell doctor for your musculoskeletal injury or condition.

While it’s easy to find all kinds of practitioners offering “stem cells” all over the internet, most of these are not orthopedic surgeons. Many use fat cells, which are not as effective for orthopedic injuries as bone marrow stem cells. Another common theme on the internet is that non-surgeons, who can only do stem cell injections, will try to pass off injections alone as a panacea for all arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and injury. While stem cell injections by themselves can often be effective and even a substitute for surgery, there are also times when stem cells are best used in conjunction with other procedures—procedures which can be performed by orthopedic surgeons, but which cannot be performed by emergency medicine doctors, family practitioners, pain management doctors, or chiropractors. For example, while stem cells alone can regenerate hip cartilage, but in some cases, the bone may have already become hard like marble in some places, soft in other places, or developed spurs. A qualified orthopedic surgeon knows the difference and is able to determine when stem cells alone will be most effective compared to a combination of stem cells with minimally invasive surgical techniques. Stem cells can be a cost effective way to avoid surgery, when used appropriately. An orthopedic surgeon is best-qualified to make this judgment.

Some of the practitioners you find on the internet may try to pass off platelet rich plasma (“PRP”) as “stem cells”, even though not all PRP contains any stem cells. While PRP certainly can play an exciting role in healing and often enable patients to avoid surgery altogether, the stem cells which may or may not be found in blood products like PRP are not the same as the bone marrow stem cells that are better suited for regenerating tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. The right preparation of PRP can have a synergistic effect when used with actual stem cell treatments and has the ability to reduce pain and speed healing by itself, however it is not a substitute for a bone marrow derived stem cell treatment. Some of these doctors advertising “stem cells” on the internet send them offshore to implant them after they are grown in a petri dish. A qualified orthopedic surgeon will generally extract cells from your bone marrow and inject them into the site of injury immediately. For example, Dr. Bennett does NOT grow cells in a petri dish or send them offshore. They are extracted and used immediately during the same procedure.
Just as with any other procedure, there is a learning curve, and experience matters. Dr. Bennett has integrated stem cells into his practice for many years with excellent results. With almost two decades of experience as an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Sarasota, his surgical experience has given him tremendous insight into various pathologies, or the progression of disease or injuries of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. The combination of experience in both surgery and regenerative techniques like PRP and stem cells is what has allowed Dr. Bennett to cultivate synergistic, proprietary treatments for his patients, including an international polo champion.

While playing in the US Open Polo championship, Lyndon was suffering from hip pain, and was contracted to play in England the following season. Hoping to avoid surgery in the middle of polo season, sought Dr. Bennett’s expertise. After Dr. Bennett treated him with adult stem cells, he was able to finish second in the U.S., going on to win the British Open championship. It was clear that this player/patron would ultimately need surgery to continue his high activity level, so Dr. Bennett later performed minimally invasive hip arthroscopy, incorporating stem cells in the procedure. Six months later, he won the U.S. Open Polo Championship, and then went on to win the British Open again and win yet another U.S. open championship.

The treatment this international athlete received could only be provided by an experienced orthopedic surgeon who also specializes in regenerative medicine. Whatever your occupation- international star athlete, homemaker, teacher, parent, executive, driver, contractor… you deserve the superior quality of care and expertise provided at Bennett Orthopedics and Sportsmedicine. Call (941)404-2703