Does my dad need stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis at 66?

Question

Hello doctor,

My dad is 66 years old. He has severe osteoarthritis in both knees. He has done with painkillers, and physiotherapy barely helps anymore. The orthopedic doctor says knee replacement is next, but someone told us about stem cell therapy as a less invasive option. He is scared of surgery and doesn't want to be stuck in bed for months.

Is it even legit for someone his age?
Any known complications or side effects in seniors?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I understand your concern regarding the severe osteoarthritis that your father is suffering from, and all the conservative treatments have not been of much help to alleviate his pain and improve mobility.

Regarding your question about stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy is not proven to be of much benefit yet for osteoarthritis, especially if we compare it with the conventional method of knee replacement, as advised by the orthopedic as well.

It is in the clinical trial stage and not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment yet.

Moreover, I would advise you to encourage weight loss if your father is overweight, which would benefit in improving the overall mobility.

Regarding your query about whether it is appropriate for his age. We need to consider some factors in this regard.

Age itself is not a problem when it comes to knee replacement; it is the overall health of the patient that matters. If he has no other comorbidities like Heart disease, Kidney disease, Liver disease, or Lung problems along with morbid obesity, the age wouldn't be a problem then.

If he has multiple diseases, then the surgeon and anesthetist can advise well regarding the complications and recovery time.

The post-operative recovery usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, and there has been an 80-90% improvement in symptoms after knee replacement surgery.

Post-op complications might include infections and clotting in veins due to prolonged immobility. In rare cases, stiffness or a reduced range of movement can happen. However, they can be avoided with better post-op care.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.