Published research in the medical literature from the Darrow Stem Cell Institute
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on the treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears with bone marrow derived stem cells. The research appears in the peer-reviewed journal Cogent Medicine. The study can be found here in its entirety: Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears with bone marrow concentrate and whole bone marrow injections with a June 20, 2019 publication date.
Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears with bone marrow concentrate and whole bone marrow injections
Abstract
Background: Human bone marrow has shown promise as a minimally invasive approach in treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions due to the presence of stem cells, platelets, and growth factors in solution. This study examines the clinical effect of whole bone marrow (WBM) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC) injections in patients who were diagnosed with rotator cuff tears or shoulder osteoarthritis.
Methods: Forty-seven patients and fifty shoulders with rotator cuff tears or shoulder osteoarthritis underwent one or two BMC or WBM treatments. These patients were grouped based on number of treatments and pathology for analysis. The patients who were injected twice received them approximately 22.33 days apart. Outcomes of resting pain, active pain, upper extremity functionality scale and overall improvement percentage were compared to baseline and between groups.
Results: Patients who received either one and two treatments reported significant improvements in resting pain, active pain, and functionality score when compared to baseline. These groups also experienced a 42.25% and 50.17% overall improvement respectively. The group that received two treatments experienced statistically significant improvements in active pain when compared to the group that received one injection. There were no significant outcome differences between RCT and OA patients.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that patients diagnosed with shoulder osteoarthritis or rotator cuff tears experienced symptomatic improvements in pain and functionality when injected with BMC or WBM. Further randomized control studies are needed to validate these findings.
Shoulder pain
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on the treatment of shoulder pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy. The research appears in the peer-reviewed Journal of Orthopaedics Spine and Sports Medicine. The study can be found here in its entirety: Treatment of shoulder pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy.
Treatment of Unresolved Shoulder Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Background : Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a minimally invasive surgical alternative that uses platelets from a patient’s own blood to heal musculoskeletal conditions. The objective of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with unresolved shoulder pain in response to PRP injections.
Methods : 52 patients and 61 shoulders underwent a series of one through seven PRP injections for unresolved shoulder pain. Patients were separated into three groups based on number of PRP treatments received. Group 1 received 1 treatment, Group 2 received 2 treatments and Group 3 received 3 or more treatments. Patients in Group 2 received a series of treatments 20.22 days apart and patients in Group 3 received treatments 20.00 days apart. Outcomes of resting pain, active pain, upper functionality scale and overall improvement percentage were compared to baseline and between groups. Group 1 reported outcomes a mean 4.79 months after treatment, Group 2 reported outcomes a mean 6.97 months after treatment, and Group 3 reported outcomes a mean 7.38 months after treatment.
Results : Patients who received one treatment experienced significant improvements in active pain and functionality when compared to baseline and also experienced 38.35% total overall improvement. Patients in Groups 2 and 3 experienced significant improvements in resting pain, active pain, and functionality score in addition to experiencing 48.33% and 55.53% total overall improvement respectively.
Conclusions : These results are encouraging and provide evidence that PRP may be an effective treatment modality for un- resolved shoulder pain and warrants further investigation.
Knee Osteoarthritis
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections. The research appears in the peer-reviewed Clinical Medicine Insights: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders. The study can be found here in its entirety: Short-Term Outcomes in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis With 4 Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections.
Short-Term Outcomes in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Four Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections
Citation: Short-Term Outcomes in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis With 4 Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections
Brent Shaw, Marc Darrow, MD JD : Darrow Stem Cell Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA Armen Derian : Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Abstract
Background:
Preliminary research suggests that bone marrow concentrate (BMC), which contains mesenchymal stem cells and platelets, is a promising treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to build on this preliminary research by reporting the short-term progress of 15 patients (20 knees) with knee osteoarthritis through 4 BMC treatments.
Methods:
Patients underwent four sequential BMC treatments with mean injection times of 13.80 days after the first treatment, 21.40 days after the second treatment, and 33.50 days after the third treatment. The last follow-up was conducted a mean 86 days after the first treatment. Baseline and posttreatment outcomes of resting pain, active pain, lower functionality scale, and overall improvement percentage were compared after each treatment.
Results:
Patients experienced statistically significant improvements in active pain and functionality score after the first treatment. Additionally, patients experienced a mean decrease in resting pain after the first treatment, yet outcomes were not statistically significant until after the second treatment. On average, patients experienced an 84.31% decrease in resting pain, a 61.95% decrease in active pain, and a 55.68% increase in functionality score at the final follow-up. Patients also reported a mean 67% total overall improvement at study conclusion. Outcomes at the final follow-up after the fourth treatment were statistically significant compared to outcomes at baseline, after first treatment, after second treatment, and after third treatment.
Conclusions:
These results are promising, and additional research with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is needed to further examine the treatment effectiveness of multiple BMC injections for knee osteoarthritis.
Hip Osteoarthritis
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on the treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis with Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections. The research appears in the peer-reviewed Clinical medicine insights. Case reports. The study can be found here in its entirety: Short-Term Outcomes in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis With 4 Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections. A Case Series.
Short-Term Outcomes of Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis With 4 Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections: A Case Series
Abstract
The use of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow concentrate (BMC) has become an increasingly popular option as an alternative to total joint replacement. Although there is evidence to support the use of BMC injections to improve quality of life for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), there is limited evidence to support its use in patients with hip OA. This case series provides the short-term outcomes of 4 hip OA patients who each underwent 4 BMC injections. On average, the last follow-up was administered 3.5 months after the first injection. The results show that patients experienced decreased resting and active pain compared with baseline and mean 72.4% total overall improvement. Patients also reported less difficulty in performing daily activities following the procedure. These encouraging results warrant further research to better understand the effects of BMC injections on hip OA.
Back Pain
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on the treatment of Low Back Pain with Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections. The research appears in the peer-reviewed Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR). The study can be found here in its entirety: Treatment of Lower Back Pain with Bone Marrow Concentrate.
Treatment of Lower Back Pain with Bone Marrow Concentrate
Abstract:
Lower back pain can be a debilitating condition that is often caused by ligament and fascial sprains, and muscle strains. Even though the diagnosis may be a herniated disc, facet arthropathy, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, or other pathology, we have found for the past twenty years, with thousands of successfully treated patients, that the actual pain generator may not even be noted in the diagnosis. With the risk of adverse complications of surgery and ineffectiveness of epidural injections, bone marrow concentrate (BMC) offers a promising treatment to treat lower back pain. BMC contains mesenchymal stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into muscle, cartilage, and bone, in addition to releasing trophic factors that enhance tissue regeneration. The four patients included in this study underwent at least one BMC injection to the entheses of muscles, fascia, and ligaments surrounding the lumbar spine. At one-year follow-up all four patients experienced a decrease in resting and active pain. Patients also reported a mean 80% total overall improvement and were able to perform daily activities with less difficulty. These encouraging results warrant further investigation of the full potential of BMC injections for lower back pain.
Treatment of Unresolved Lower Back Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections
This research appears in the peer-reviewed journal Cogent Medicine. The study can be found here in its entirety: Treatment of Unresolved Lower Back Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections.
Abstract
Background: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a non-invasive modality that has been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions for the past two decades. Based on our research, there were no publications that studied the effect of PRP on unresolved lower back pain. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of patients who received PRP injections to treat unresolved lower back pain.
Methods: 67 patients underwent a series one, two, or three PRP injections into the ligaments, muscle, and fascia surrounding the lumbar spine. Patients who received two treatments received injections a mean 24 days apart and patients who received three treatments received injections a mean 20.50 days apart. Baseline and posttreatment outcomes of resting pain, active pain, lower extremity functionality scale, and overall improvement percentage were compared to baseline and between groups.
Results: Patients who received one PRP injection reported 36.33% overall improvement and experienced significant improvements in active pain relief. These same patients experienced improvements in resting pain and functionality score, yet these results were not statistically significant. Patients who received a series of two and three treatments experienced significant decreases in resting pain and active pain and reported 46.17% and 54.91% total overall improvement respectively. In addition, they were able to perform daily activities with less difficulty than prior to treatment.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PRP injections may be a viable conservative approach to treat lower back pain. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
Wrist Pain
The Darrow Stem Cell Institute has published research on Platelet rich plasma therapy on unresolved chronic wrist pain. The research appears in the peer-reviewed Orthopedic & Muscular System: Current Research . The study can be found here in its entirety: Platelet rich plasma therapy on unresolved chronic wrist pain
Platelet rich plasma therapy on unresolved chronic wrist pain
Abstract
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a minimally invasive surgical alternative that uses components from a patient’s own blood to regrow tissue and relieve pain. This study investigated the clinical effect of PRP on unresolved wrist pain as wrist injuries have become leading workplace impairment. Six patients and seven wrists underwent a series of two to four PRP injections for unresolved wrist pain. Outcomes of resting pain, active pain, upper functionality scale, and overall improvement percentage were measured and compared to baseline. The final follow-up was performed a mean of 6.57 months after injection. All patients included in the study experienced decreases in pain and improvement in functionality score at final follow-up. In addition, patients reported a mean of 56.43% total overall improvement. While these results should be considered with caution, this study provides preliminary evidence to warrant further randomized-controlled studies to validate these results.
Studies Awaiting Publication
1. Comparing Outcomes of Spun and Whole Bone Marrow Concentrate injections in Hip and Shoulder Pain Patients
2. Treatment of Hand and Wrist Osteoarthritis with Bone Marrow Concentrate: A Case Series
3. Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis with Bone Marrow Concentrate Injections
4. Treatment of Chronic Knee Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections
5. Treatment of Chronic Hip Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections.
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