Stem Cell Therapy for Common Shoulder Injuries

Slides from a presentation by Dr. Wagner

Webinar Presentation by Dr. Mark D. Wagner, MD, FAAFP Diplomate | ABFM

Stem Cell Therapy for Common Shoulder Injuries

Dr. Mark Wagner holds over 30 years of experience and is regarded as a leader in the field of Sports Medicine. From professional to recreational athletes, Dr. Wagner’s goal is to provide patients with individualized, state of the art treatment, to help get athletes back on the field.

Dr. Mark Wagner first started with the Sports Medicine Clinic in 1987. He then joined Seattle Marine Proliance Surgeons in 2015 as a Medical Director and Consulting Physician. Then in 2017, he opened Seattle Sports & Regenerative Medicine and was voted Seattle Met’s Top Doctor for 2017.

What is stem cell therapy? Watch to learn more.

Orthopedic injuries and illnesses that can be treated: osteoarthritis, muscle and tendon injury, and meniscus and labrum tears

Should conditions that can be treated with stem cells: rotator cuff tears, labrum tears, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).

The rotator cuff is comprised of these four tendons: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and the teres minor. These four provide strength and stability to the shoulder joint when in motion.

Rotator cuff disease is found in roughly 30-50% of people over the age of 50 years old. It can also be found in athletes and active individuals at any age.

Surgery for rotator cuff tears isn’t always the solution. There is a 30-94% failure rate for rotator cuff surgeries, according to the National Institute of Health. The Cleveland Clinic found that 14 patients with arthroscopic repairs all had failed at one year.

The Hospital for Special Surgery NYC acknowledged that “surgery did not offer what patients wanted in both relief and function.”

In a study done by Australian researchers who presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2012 found a 57% failure rate out of 500 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears.

Summary: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs have a high percentage of failure, often result in side effects such as pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion, and can have a 6-8 month work restriction.

Steroid or cortizone injections are also not a perfect solution. It can weaken and damage rotator cuffs, and cause rapid joint destruction. The Journal of Radiology (2019) also found that steroid injections can accelerate the progression of arthritis, weakens bones and cause fractures, and causes bone death (osteonecrosis).

What is the labrum? The head of the humerus is like the bowling ball and the labrum is the barrier between the lane and gutter. A stable shoulder keeps the ball in the lane, while an unstable shoulder allows the bowling ball to go into the gutter.

Labrum surgery does have its issues. It can lead to a long and painful recovery time. Patients often feel no improvement in mobility and function post operation. The shoulder oftentimes remains unstable and leads to further injuries such as rotator cuff tears or osteoarthritis.

Stem cell therapy beats out cortizone injections and surgery. Stem cell therapy repairs and replaces damaged or torn cartilage, promotes self-healing, potent anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents further tissue damage.

The limitations after total shoulder replacement include overhead sports, weight training, heavy work, no lifting of 20lbs or more, and an 8-10 year life span.

There are also several complications of total shoulder replacement. These include rotator cuff tearing, instability, humeral fracture, nerve or blood vessel damage, and infection.