Health & Wellness

Both Ryan Hunt, DO, and Ryan Wagner, MD, have a passion for sports medicine and received fellowship training to help patients of all ages, including those who are not athletes. At Memorial Orthopedics, they treat non-surgical orthopedic issues, as well as serve as Team Physicians for local student athletes at our seven partner schools.

At Memorial Orthopedics, our goal is to thoroughly evaluate each patient’s unique issue and to create an individualized treatment plan that meets the patient’s needs. To schedule a consultation, please call (937) 578-4200.

Q: I have heard the term “Regenerative Medicine” – what does it mean?

A: Drs. Hunt & Wagner – Regenerative Medicine refers to using non-surgical measures to enhance the body’s natural healing process, with the goal of repairing damaged tissues.

The human body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself, but it would be misleading to say that Regenerative Medicine completely “heals” an injury or “regenerates” new tendon or cartilage tissue. The reality is these methods enhance the body’s healing process and increase its capacity to repair and stabilize the injured tissue, with the goal of reducing pain and restoring function. Many of these procedures will require after-care and post-procedure rehab.

Q: What are the Regenerative Medicine treatment options that Memorial provides?

A: Drs. Hunt & Wagner – Memorial currently offers several options:

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
  Ideal for: Osteoarthritis; Tendinosis
  Platelets are a type of cell in the blood that are involved in injury response and tissue healing. PRP is produced by obtaining a blood sample and then using a centrifuge to isolate and extract the platelets, which are suspended in plasma. This product is then injected directly into the damaged tendon or joint.
• Viscosupplement/Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
  Ideal for: Osteoarthritis
  Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in many tissues throughout the body. Joint fluid is one example of this, as it is rich in hyaluronic acid, and gives fluid properties that support and protect the joint surfaces. Hyaluronic acid injections are synthetic, gel-like, versions of this substance and are approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis, most commonly in the knee.
• Tenotomy
  Ideal for: Tendinosis
  This is an ultrasound-guided procedure used to treat chronic tendinosis with a focus to increase blood flow to the damaged portion of the tendon by passing a needle through the abnormal tendon tissue. This is generally performed with a PRP injection in the same procedure, but there are tenotomy procedures that can be performed independently from PRP.

  TenJet is a special example of tenotomy, in which a specialized probe is inserted into the damaged portion of the tendon, and high-pressure saline is directed at the abnormal fibers. The technology in the probe allows for this tissue to be removed, leaving only the healthy tendon tissue behind and unharmed.

Q: How do I know if these treatment options are right for me?

A: Drs. Hunt & Wagner – The field of Regenerative Medicine holds a great deal of potential and offers an alternative to traditional treatments for common musculoskeletal problems. However, it is important to recognize that each patient is unique, as are the nature of their injuries, and goals for treatment. We recommend a consultation with one of our musculoskeletal specialists.
 

Ask a Patient

Q: What would you say to someone considering Regenerative Medicine but feeling unsure?

A: Tammy Harris, TenJet Procedure

“Go for it! Do it, do it, do it!”

A: Carolyn Heacock, TenJet Procedure

“Hearing from someone who saw success would have made me feel at ease – so as that person, I’d say, ‘give it a try!’”