Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine researchers in sports medicine are studying state-of-the-art, minimally invasive procedures and interventions, such as stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, viscosupplementation, ultrasound, growth factors and amniotic products, to promote healing of musculoskeletal injuries. As this knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries advances, the treatment strategies also advance.

Faculty members collaborating on research related to promoting healing of musculoskeletal injuries using regenerative medicine include:

• Christopher L. Camp, M.D.
• Aaron J. Krych, M.D.
• Daniel B. Saris, M.D., Ph.D.
• David B. Soma, M.D.
• Michael J. Stuart, M.D.

Research highlights

Review a complete list of publications on regenerative medicine by Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine researchers. Here are the highlights:

• Injection of bone marrow aspirate for arthritic knees did not reduce pain after one year.

  Shapiro SA, Arthurs JR, Heckman MG, Bestic JM, Kazmnerchak SE, Diehl NN, Aubair AC, O'Connor MI. Quantitative T2 MRI mapping and 12-month follow-up in a randomized, blinded, placebo controlled trial of bone marrow aspiration and concentration for osteoarthritis of the knees. Cartilage. Aug. 30, 2018.

• Bone marrow aspirate and platelet-rich plasma improves function and reduces pain for patients with steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis.

  Houdek MT, Wyles CC, Collins MS, How BM, Terzic A, Behfar A, Sierra RJ. Stem cells combined with platelet-rich plasma effectively treat corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of the hip: A prospective study. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2018;476:388.

• A technique for ultrasound-guided bone marrow harvesting was described and validated in a cadaveric model.

  Shapiro SA, Arthurs JR. Bone marrow aspiration for regenerative orthopedic intervention: Technique with ultrasound guidance for needle placement. Regenerative Medicine. 2017;12:917.

• Proposal for responsible methods to introduce new regenerative medicine therapies.

  Shapiro SA, Smith CG, Arthurs JR, Master Z. Preparing regenerative therapies for clinical application: Proposals for responsible translation. Regenerative Medicine. 2019;14:77.

• Case study reveals bone marrow aspirate concentrate injection followed by a platelet-rich plasma injection reduces pain in osteoarthritis.

  Sampson S, Smith J, Vincent H, Aufiero D, Zall M, Botto-van-Bemden A. Intra-articular bone marrow concentrate injection protocol: Short-term efficacy in osteoarthritis. Regenerative Medicine. 2016;11:511.

• Regenerative medicine products may enhance cartilage formation when treating a full thickness cartilage defect with a scaffold.

  Krych AJ, Nawabi DH, Farshad-Amacker NA, Jones KJ, Maak TG, Potter HG, Williams RJ 3rd. Bone marrow concentrate improves early cartilage phase maturation of a scaffold plug in the knee: A comparative magnetic resonance imaging analysis to platelet-rich plasma and control. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016;44:91.

• MSC infusions may not be as effective for patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

  Houdek MT, Wyles CC, Packard BD, Terzic A, Behfar A, Sierra RJ. Decreased osteogenic activity of mesenchymal stem cells in patients with corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2016;31:893.

• Athletes with chronic patellar tendinopathy responded to PRP and ESWT; improvements were more significant in the PRP post-treatment.

  Smith J, Sellon JL. Comparing PRP injections with ESWT for athletes with chronic patellar tendinopathy. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2014;24:88.

• Ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy followed by PRP injection resulted in significant improvements in pain and function over a mean 14-month follow-up time frame.

  Finoff JT, Fowler SP, Lai JK, Santrach PJ, Willis EA, Sayeed YA, Smith J. Treatment of Chronic Tendinopathy with Ultrasound-Guided Needle Tenotomy and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection. PM&R. 2011;3:900.