Adipose vs. Bone Marrow or Placental Derived Cellular Therapy

Keep in mind that there are many forms of regenerative therapy that are not specifically stem cell as regulated by the FDA.

Two effective and common procedure that we offer at Piedmont Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation are adipose derived structural support cells  and human cellular or tissue based products (HCT/Ps) to enhance healing and pain relief.  These treatments are typically brought to the attention of patients with degenerative arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, or peripheral arterial related disease. However, not all regenerative therapy approaches are identical. At our clinic, structural support cells are derived from adipose (Mesenchyme) tissue to provide pain relief, support, volume enhancement and cushioning.

The procedure for harvesting autologous adipose support cells (cells from the patient’s own body) is performed as an outpatient procedure with little to no downtime. It is also generally not overly painful.

Once the cells have been harvested, they are they can be applied, or grafted, into the arthritic or musculoskeletal injury site. This structural support and ultimately reduces or eliminates pain. As no harvesting is required with placental-derived products,  they are easier to use, but these products also are not autologous (from your own body) and less robust in their abilities.  Let’s look closer into each type of therapy and see how they share similarities or differ:

Adipose Derived Structural Support Cells

• Adipose/fat tissue is a great source of structural support, medicinal signaling cells, and growth factors for patients of all ages
• These cells are harvested from adipose tissue (fat) via liposuction
• Donor sites frequently include the abdominal wall, the buttock (below the iliac crest), and the love handles (above the iliac crest) – a local anesthetic is used for this procedure
• Adipose derived stem cells are among the most common type to harvest
• The body’s response time is typically within 21 days; we call this the “Eureka Day”
• Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are always needed for this type of cell therapy – the PRP initiates a wound healing response

Bone Marrow Derived Cells

• Bone marrow is a great source of stem cells and growth factors for patients 45 or younger (preferably 40 or younger)
• The donor site is usually the iliac crest (pelvis), performed with a specialized type of needle, with an approach from either front or back – local anesthetic is used
• The procedure (numbing, tracing, and the extraction) takes about 1-2 hours
• The body’s response time is typically within 21 days; we call this the “Eureka Day”
• Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are always needed for this type of stem cell therapy – the PRP initiates a wound healing response

Placental Derived Cell Products  (HCT/Ps)

• Placental derived cell products can be given to any patient (patient-rejection is extremely rare) and no surgery is required to harvest cells (that makes your life much easier!)
• Third parties harvest these cell products from the amniotic sac – not an embryo!
• It is safe and ethical, does not interfere with any moral or religious beliefs, and obtained after giving birth
• It is monitored and processed at an FDA approved biologic lab before it is delivered to the clinic
• Placental-derived cell products require careful and diligent planning because they have an extremely short shelf life once prepared for grafting – only 10 minutes! A physician who is experienced in grafting is required
• Often platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are not necessary at the time of the graft (so that’s a money-saver) however, if the patient’s body does not respond, then we can always jump start the graft by performing a PRP graph 2 weeks later

As you can see, each therapy type has its own unique qualities. The best choice regarding what option to use is completely dependent on the condition, the patient, and the practitioner.  After all, we want to make the right decision together. Give us a call at 864 235 1834; let’s figure out the right solution for your chronic pain condition.