Good News for Aching Joints, Knees or Ankles

**xtremerider** · April 20th, 2010 04:29 PM

Good News for Aching Joints, Knees or Ankles
April 19, 2010, 3:56pm

In the past, if you had a cartilage lesion, there would be only two options to choose from—accept your fate of early arthritis or, for other cases, get knee replacement surgery.
However, thanks to advances in medical technology, a new and cutting edge technique is now available—biologic joint reconstruction. Makati Medical Center, the country’s leading health institution, is the first hospital in the Philippines to offer this procedure.
What is biologic joint reconstruction?
Biologic joint reconstruction is a new medical procedure that provides an alternative solution to those suffering from joint problems such as sport or traumatic early onset of knee arthritis, allowing them to move normally and without pain.
Dr. Marc Anthony Castro, who specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy and cartilage regeneration at the MakatiMed, explains, “Biologic joint reconstruction involves a combination of articular cartilage repair techniques. It’s a 3-4 hour procedure for patients with cases of cartilage defects for knees and ankles. We take stem cells from another part of your body—such as your hip—and using a processing kit from Switzerland, make it into a paste and cover the defect with a membrane imported from Italy.”
The procedure, he adds, is highly recommended for people who have sports- or trauma-induced arthritis but are still too young to have knee replacements. “This is the best way to achieve greater mobility when you have joint problems at such a young age. Re-growing your own cartilage allows you to enjoy improved movement without the limitation and morbidity of implanting metallic inserts." Biologic joint reconstruction also provides lasting pain relief and improved function for patients with joint or cartilage problems.
After operation, the patient undergoes intensive therapy for six months. However, it takes a year to fully go back to sports and other physical activities. But patients can already be discharged from the hospital three days after the operation. For the meantime, they will need crutches to support their movements.”
Despite the existence of this breakthrough procedure, Dr. Manuel Pecson III emphasizes that prevention is always better than cure. "We need to take care of our joints by stretching, doing strengthening exercises and having any pain treated as soon as possible. Once you feel something, don’t self-medicate—see your doctor ASAP.”
For more inquiries, you may visit the Makati Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics. You may also call their 24/7 On-Call hotline at (+632) 8888-999 or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/253491...nees-or-ankles