What are Biological Therapies?
Biological therapies include stem cells, bone marrow aspirate concentration and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). These are all relatively new treatments that have a role in early arthritis, localised cartilage defects and damage in the hip and also for chronic tendonitis such as trochanteric bursitis. Mr Hoad-Reddick offers bone marrow aspirate concentrate treatment for cartilage defects in the hip which is a form of stem cell therapy. He also regularly performs PRP injections for chronic tendonitis around the hip.
PRP injections are just being approved by insurance companies for use in early hip arthritis, the outcomes of this procedure are as yet uncertain but early results are encouraging.
Would I be suitable for Biological Therapies?
Mr Hoad-Reddick can discuss whether you are suitable for biological therapies in outpatient clinic based on investigations including x-rays and MR scanning. Unfortunately, biological therapies are not an established treatment when advanced arthritis of the hip is present. Once there is full thickness loss of cartilage in the joint, the results of biological therapies are not predictable and it may be better to considerate more established treatments such as hip replacement surgery.
What are potential complications and side effects of biological therapies?
These therapies are generally considered to be safe. Whenever injection therapy is performed into or around joints there is a small risk of infection, along with the routine risks of injection therapy such as localised inflammation, transient numbness from local anaesthetic injection and pain.