2. • “Orthobiologics is a part of regenerative medicine, which uses natural substances, or biologics, from one’s
own body as an attempt to treat musculoskeletal injuries, tendon injuries, muscle injuries, (and)
osteoarthritis,” said Facile.
• “Regenerative medicine is an area of medicine that utilizes cells to treat, repair, or regrow organ tissues.
While it’s not understood what these cells are doing, it’s believed that they are repairing and decreasing
inflammation, which can then improve the repair process in a particular injury,” she explained.
3. Tissue types of orthobiologics
• There are four different types of tissues that constitute orthobiologics, and they are comprised of the
following:
Blood-derived
Extra-cellular matrix
Conditioned media
Stem cells
4. Who could benefit from orthobiologics?
• Facile says this is one of the most challenging parts of orthobiologics, because there’s still so much to learn.“
• The potential is there for many musculoskeletal conditions, but we lack high quality studies to guide our
decision making.
• Because of this, one needs to speak with a trained care provider like Dr. Herman,” said Facile.
• “That’s ultimately a provider and patient’s decision to determine benefits, through shared decision-making,
education and information.
• “We cannot replace surgical interventions.
• This is an offering for those that may not want surgery, or may not qualify for surgery to give them an
opportunity to get their quality of life back.”
5. So, what are the differences?
• Donella Herman, M.D. is a sports medicine specialist at Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.
• She said orthobiologics could be considered narrow, as opposed to the broad scope of regenerative
medicine.
• “In orthobiologics, we focus on using platelet rich plasma and therapeutic cells.“For regenerative medicine,
they’re doing things like growing cells, utilizing other people’s cells to fight cancer.
• It’s a broader term, and a broader thing,” said Dr. Herman.
• She, Facile, and others on the team at Sanford have narrowed their therapies to specifically platelet rich
plasma and therapeutic cells, in an attempt to treat musculoskeletal injuries.
• Dr. Herman said the cells they use are derived from either bone or adipose tissue.
• Meaning, they use cells from a patient’s bone, or an area on their body with more fat.
• Those areas are rich in regenerative cells, including stem cells.
