Hyderabad: Do fat cells from the stomach or abdomen region help in dealing with arthritic pain? Orthopedics state that new research definitely indicates this and it can be a possible treatment option of the future. But presently there have not been sufficient number of trials and therefore it is too early to test it on arthritic patients.
Dr N Somasekhar Reddy, senior orthopedic surgeon at Apollo Hospitals explained, “The idea of using fat cells to deal with arthritis is only at the trial level. We are presently being very particular and choosy in treating patients with stem cells harvested from the bone marrow in the laboratory. This is because the outcome of the treatment is not as generic as expected. These are treatments which have worked only on selective patients and can’t be recommended for all. Presently, the existing treatment of joint replacement have shown promising outcome in maximum patients and it has improved the quality of life in many people. Given this, these new treatments are experimental in nature and can’t be applicable for all.”
Stem cell treatment is being used in treating sports injuries and also younger patients of less than 30 years of age.
In this method, stem cells from the patient are used but it is only after advanced diagnostic testing, where it is evaluated that stem cell will work towards healing the damaged knee or joint.
Dr Shashi Kanth, senior orthopedic surgeon explained, “We are very choosy in picking up cases in stem cells due to the outcome. There has not been any experiment with fat cells carried out in India.”
There are only two research studies where more than 1,000 patients were taken up for trials. The results do not state that it can be taken up for a large number of people. Hence we need more research work and also more trials to see how it can work effectively for humans.”
