Prolotherapy vs. Surgery for Knee Injuries
Prolotherapy vs. Surgery for Knee Injuries
 It is no wonder that the knee is the most commonly injured area of the body when you consider the incredible amount of stress that we put on the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage of the knee during sports and daily activities. When one of the knee’s ligaments or tendons weakens, joint instability results and ultimately makes the other tissues in the knee more susceptible to injury. Therefore, it is not uncommon for someone with a knee injury to have multiple injured tissues at the same time.
Knee Surgery
The traditional treatment for knee injuries can be very invasive, involving surgical repair and removal of integral soft tissues. A recent 63-year-old patient came to see us after a failed arthroscopic surgery for a medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis in her left knee. During the operation, her surgeons located her medial meniscal tear, which was 2/3 deep, and trimmed the loose meniscus. While scoping, they also found a tear in her lateral meniscus and removed about 10% of the middle and posterior thirds of that meniscus as well. Lastly, the surgeons found and removed loose cartilage from the surface of the femur. As a part of the arthroscopy a chondroplasty was performed, which involves drilling holes into the femur to bring repair to the joint. Lastly, a steroid called Depo-Medrol was injected into Bev’s knee.
The problem with these arthroscopic surgeries is that they remove tissue from vital structures of the knee. The overall function of the knee is dependent on every structure. The menisci, which are made of fibrocartilage, provide cushion and shock absorption as well as weight distribution across the knee. When they’re removed, it means that shock and weight load have to be absorbed by other structures such as the ligaments, adding to the stress that they already bear. The articular cartilage also provides some cushion to the joint, as well as protecting the surfaces of the femur and tibia. Without the protection of cartilage and two menisci, the surfaces of the two bones rub together, triggering the degenerative onset of osteoarthritis.
Prolotherapy: Alternative to Knee Surgery
 Now, contrast this progression of surgical events with Prolotherapy treatment. Prolotherapy triggers inflammation, which brings blood and nutrients to the joint. During inflammation, platelets release growth factors, which stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis; these are two central materials that make up ligament, tendon, and cartilage tissues. So to put it in simpler terms, Prolotherapy causes the regrowth of damaged joint tissues. Rather than removing them, the good tissues remain in the joint and are repaired and regenerated. New cartilage and meniscus tissue are made, reducing pressure on ligaments, tendons, and bones surface, and ligaments and tendons become stronger, stabilizing the joint.
When a patient comes in for Prolotherapy, his ligaments and tendons are being stimulated to repair and strengthen themselves with each treatment. With the help of good nutrition and proper exercise it is possible make a complete recovery. Whereas surgery increases the risk of getting more meniscal tears, ligament sprains, tendon strains, chondromalacia, and osteoarthritis, Prolotherapy helps resolve all of these conditions. On average, we see Prolotherapy patients every 4-6 weeks for 3-6 visits, making the recovery time less than 8 months. Choosing Prolotherapy as an alternative to surgery allows you to stay active throughout recovery and prevent you from a lifetime of chronic pain. If you suffer from knee pain and would like to make an appointment for Prolotherapy, call our office today at (708) 848-7789.
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