A city hospital has launched a proprietary stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis patients with the aim of reducing their dependence on painkillers and providing a more long-term solution to knee joint pain.
Announcing the first dose administered to a patient at Maruti Hospital in Tiruchi on Monday, orthopedic surgeon VR Ravi said the new off-the-shelf therapy developed by Mumbai-based Alkem Laboratories had undergone extensive trials for over a decade. And the central government has approved it.
“Osteoarthritis causes severe pain in the knee joint, hip joint and spine. Conventional treatment includes steroid injections and pain-relieving pills. However it has to be repeated over and over to effectively manage the pain. STEM In the case of cell therapy, each dose can relieve pain and stimulate tissue rejuvenation for up to 10 years, provided the patient maintains a stable body weight. The dosage may be repeated on medical advice,” Dr. Ravi told a press conference. said in.
Stem cells are drawn from young and competent anonymous donors, and stored at -196 °C. They are surgically injected into the joints after they have reached room temperature.
Dr. Ravi claimed that the treatment would have no side effects and could be administered as an outpatient procedure. “After the injection, the patient will be kept under observation for a few hours, and will be able to return home the same day. The drug will work by reducing the pain within a fortnight and then stimulating the re-growth of tissue over three months. However, for osteoarthritis patients whose bones are bent over time, conventional orthopedic surgery is the only option,” he said.