Tendon injuries (tendinosis) are very common among the general population, and especially among athletes. Thus, while in the workplace they constitute between 15 and 30% of pathologies, they can exceed 50% of the causes of sports injuries, according to experts from the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians.
The main risk factors that increase the incidence of tendon injuries are aging and excess weight, in addition to sex, because they affect men more. As the tendon is subjected to periodic and recurrent overload, it wears out and the response of the repair or regeneration mechanism of this tissue is reduced. Until now, when this occurred, in most cases the patient underwent surgery and had to face a long and complicated rehabilitation.
Now, however, a clinical trial conducted by researchers at the Institute for Tissue Regenerative Therapy (ITRT) has scientifically demonstrated for the first time in history that cultured mesenchymal stem cells (CMSC) are capable of regenerating tendon and facilitating the healing of chronic injuries. knee, which is why they have become the only scientifically proven treatment for this purpose.
The new therapy creates new tissue and heals the tendon injury without sequelae, and patients can return to high-level sports within two months of receiving treatment
The twelve-month results of the trial have been published in the prestigious journal Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine and show an unprecedented degree of regeneration in 100% of the patients, with a decrease in pain and a return to sports practice after two months. . The study was led by doctors Robert Soler, Lluís Orozco and Gil Rodas, and was carried out at the ITRT headquarters at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona (Quirónsalud Group).
One of the greatest advances in sports medicine and traumatology
In this clinical trial, 20 patients between 18 and 48 years old who suffered from a chronic injury to the patellar tendon, participated in sports regularly, and had not responded to the usual conservative treatments participated. These patients were divided into two groups and 20 million mesenchymal stem cells obtained from their own bone marrow and cultured in the laboratory were applied to the 10 individuals in the first group.
The 10 participants in the second group were treated with a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) solution, that is, peripheral blood was obtained, centrifuged and applied following the same procedure. Both groups followed outpatient treatment without hospital admission, and the results were measured in the clinical setting with the VAS and VISA-P scales and in the imaging field with ultrasound, UTC, and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (high resolution).
The patients in the first group showed obvious immediate tendon regeneration, while in those in the second only the sensation of pain decreased, without the tendon evolving, so this second group was treated with CMMC after six months. Twelve months after receiving treatment, all patients showed 100% tendon regeneration.
Researchers consider that the new therapy with cultured mesenchymal stem cells is one of the greatest advances in sports medicine and traumatology in recent decades, and this is demonstrated by the fact that the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has authorized ITRT to treat other tendons with the same procedure.
Currently, more than 200 patients have been treated at this center for ruptures and injuries in practically all the tendons of the body, among which the Achilles, supraspinatus, patellar and hamstring tendons stand out. The new therapy developed by ITRT has been shown to create new tissue and heal the injury without sequelae, to the point that patients can return to high-level sports two months after receiving the treatment. In addition, it opens a way to treat chronic patients for whom until now no therapeutic options were available.
Source: Institute of Tissue Regenerative Therapy (ITRT)
