The term regenerative medicine, in general, refers to a variety of medical therapies that enable the body to repair and regenerate damaged tissues.
In veterinary medicine, our veterinary staff most often employ these techniques to help repair a joint after damage due to arthritis or after orthopedic surgery (such as an ACL repair).
Do you offer regenerative medicine options at Colorado Springs Veterinary Surgery and Rehab Center (CSVSR)?
At Colorado Springs Veterinary Surgery and Rehab Center, we offer intra-articular joint injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow-derived stem cells, or both. The PRP or stem cells are collected under sedation from your pet, so nothing foreign is being injected into their body.
How do PRP and stem cell joint injections work?
PRP injections start with a simple blood draw. The blood is then processed using a specialized system that concentrates the platelets and plasma.
Under light sedation the PRP is injected into the joint(s) where it recruits cells to clean up dead and injured cells and releases proteins called “growth factors” which are responsible for tissue regeneration. The entire process takes less than an hour.
Stem cells are collected from your pet’s bone marrow, under anesthesia. The sample is then processed using a specialized system that isolates and concentrates the stem cells.
Once injected into the joint, stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into (become) any type of cell. Additionally, they can “turn on” and recruit other cells to help with tissue repair.
Who can benefit from regenerative medicine?
Any pet with arthritic joints, young or old.
Pets undergoing orthopedic surgery, to speed healing.
Pets who cannot tolerate traditional therapies, such as anti-inflammatory pain medications, or for whom these medications are no longer effective.
Pets with muscle/tendon/ligament injuries.
A canine rehabilitation practitioner at CSVSR uses regenerative medicine as part of a multi-modal approach to treating our patients.
In combination with other therapies such as therapeutic laser therapy, acupuncture, pulsed electromagnetic therapy, massage/manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise can help harness and direct their body’s own ability to heal itself.
Contact CSVSR for more information!