Today is a very exciting time to be in the medical field. We have started a new process to heal patients with conditions that we have never been able to heal before. It is called, “REGENERATIVE MEDICINE.” This is where we are able to heal ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage and bone. We are also looking into it being able to re-grow organs, and re-vasculize areas of the body.
This new regenerative medicine is actually PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) and Stem Cells. This is NOT embryonic stem cells but adult stem cells. We are harvesting stem cells out of the fat from the animal. Then concentrating them and mixing with the PRP and re-injecting them into the area we need to heal.
For the procedure, all we need is a small 1” cube of fat. This is the size of a cherry tomato. For the PRP, we just draw two tubes of blood. These samples are small and the procedures to obtain them are not very invasive. At least, they are not as invasive as replacing a hip or any other major orthopedic surgery. Obtaining the fat on a dog is actually less invasive than spaying. And there is less blood with this procedure.
Once the cells are obtained, concentrated and re-suspending in PRP, they can be injected into the joint. We have seen some positive results in one week post procedure and more over the next one to three months as the healing progresses.
Indications for this procedure at this time are: osteoarthritis, orthopedics, tendon damage, ligament damage and bone damage. This is a minimally invasive technique. It promotes the reduction of pain and the regeneration of tissue. It can be performed in the clinic the same day on an outpatient basis. The immediate application of this procedure will equal the most viable cells.
The fat cells in a dog are harvested by making a small incision at the umbilicus and extracting the small fat sample from the abdomen. In horses, we are using a lip-suction technique from the rump. Both procedures only take about 15 minutes to do. Then we will spend about 2 hours in the lab. As far as re-injecting the cells, it only takes a few minutes depending on the patient.
At this point in time, we are just getting approval for human testing. They are looking at being able to re-vasculize the heart; re-grow breasts and many other applications.
And since these cells are from the patient themselves, we do not have to worry about rejection or other adverse side affects. We are just harvesting the patient’s own cells, concentrating them and putting them back in the body where they can do the most.
Dr. Tim E. O’Neill, DVM, owns Country Veterinary Service in Farmington, Ark.
