Dr. Kevin Plancher with Plancher Orthopaedics Offers tips on new treatment option for arthritis of the knee
New York, NY & Greenwich, CT (PRWEB) May 16, 2017
Instead of putting up with nagging pain and stiffness and continually taking anti-inflammatory medications, wouldn’t it be better to help those with knee arthritis to actually heal? That’s the premise behind a newer injectable therapy called FloGraft, which uses human amniotic fluid to protect and regenerate inflamed knee joints, says orthopaedic surgeon Kevin D. Plancher, MD, founder of Plancher Orthopaedics.
FloGraft is one of several bio-derived substances orthopaedists doctors have been using in recent years as part of a “regenerative medicine” effort. This cutting-edge treatment makes use of amniotic fluid, which cushions and protects babies during pregnancy and is harvested during cesarean births without harming mother or baby, Dr. Plancher explains.
The injectable treatment adds another alternative for a nonsurgical treatment for osteoarthritis, which is one of the most common health problems in the United States. Arthritis of the knee affects about 10% of men and 13% of women over age 60 nationwide, according to the National Institutes of Health. Often called wear-and-tear arthritis, the pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion and swelling it causes not only makes it hard to move around easily, but takes away some of the enjoyment of life for those affected.
“Beyond undergoing total knee replacement surgery, which is obviously an invasive procedure, doctors haven’t had that many options to offer knee arthritis patients in the past,” says Dr. Plancher, also a Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “The development of FloGraft is definitely a promising and welcoming alternative along with other newer modalities.”
How FloGraft works
How does FloGraft work? It helps to understand that amniotic fluid, and the membrane surrounding it, are diverse substances containing many components, including the structural protein collagen, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins. When injected into the knee, these all work together to ease the bone-on-bone grinding from thinning cartilage often occurring in knee arthritis. Furthermore, this potentially promotes regeneration of the cartilage and other tissues that have been worn away.
Injections of amniotic fluid and membrane tissue are being analyzed not just for knee arthritis, but other orthopaedic conditions as well, Dr. Plancher notes. These include tendonitis, muscle tears, cartilage repair, and even plantar fasciitis in the foot. And while FloGraft itself is a relatively new product, using human- and bovine-derived amniotic fluid to treat orthopaedic conditions was reported as long ago as 1927, Dr. Plancher says.
Before being used on patients, harvested amniotic fluid is screened extensively for safety. Donors also undergo a variety of blood tests and medical reviews to determine if their material is safe to use on others.
“The great thing is that amniotic fluid is a readily available substance,” he says, “and having something like this that’s easily injected into damaged body areas opens the possibility of regenerative medicine for a wide variety of disorders and injuries.”
What to expect with FloGraft treatment
What can you expect if you undergo FloGraft treatment? The injection process takes just a few minutes and only poses minimal discomfort, Dr. Plancher explains. Patients can leave the office immediately and go about their daily activities with exception of using crutches for a short period of time if injected into the knee. The number of FloGraft injections needed for each patient will vary and is tailored to their individual situation.
“Hopefully once it’s injected into the knee, FloGraft will help the knee begin healing within weeks, and patients should notice a real difference in their arthritis symptoms within a few months,” says Dr. Plancher, who lectures globally on issues related to orthopaedic procedures and sports injury management. “Many patients notice less pain after only one injection.”
Kevin D. Plancher, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and the founder of Plancher Orthopaedics.
Plancher Orthopaedics is a comprehensive orthopaedics practice with offices in New York City and Greenwich, CT. http://www.plancherortho.com
New York Office
1160 Park Avenue (corner of 92nd Street)
New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212) 876-5200
Fax: (212) 876-4440
Connecticut Office
31 River Road, Suite 102 Cos Cob,
CT 06807
Phone: (203) 863-2003
Fax: (203) 863-2025
Joseph M. Ajdinovich, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2016-2017
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bonutti Clinic & HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
Effingham, IL
Jeffrey T. Alwine, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2013-2014
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Guthrie Troy Community Hospital
Corning, New York / Troy, Pennsylvania
Shariff K. Bishai, M.S., D.O.
Fellowship Year 2006-2007
Post Fellowship: Partner, Associated Orthopedists of Detroit
St. Claire Shores, MI
Peter B. Blank, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2005-2006
Post Fellowship: Owner, New Jersey Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Basking Ridge, NJ
David B. Dickerson, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2008-2009
Post Fellowship: Owner, Performance Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Shrewsbury / Tom’s River, New Jersey
Albert S.M. Dunn, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2013-2014
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, Inc.
Chardon, Ohio
Eric D. Fornari MD
Pediatric Sports Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center | 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, 6th Floor, Bronx, NY 10467
Monet A. France, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2012-2013
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, CareMount Medical
Fishkill, New York
Mary Ann Gardner, M.D., Lieutenant Commander, Medical Corp, USNR
Fellowship Year 2007-2008
Post Fellowship: Department of Surgery at James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital
Tampa, Florida
Michael J. Kaplan, MD
Advanced Knee Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Active Orthopaedics P.C. | 1579 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762
Harish Kempegowda, M.D.
Fellowship Year: 2018-2019
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Horizon Health
Paris, Illinois
Bradley J. Lawson, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2010-2011
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sheryl L. Lipnick, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2008-2009
Post Fellowship: Physician, The Center for Sports Orthopaedics, S.C
Hoffman Estates / Carol Stream, IL
Timothy A. Luke, M.D.
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Minimally Invasive Spine
Fellowship Year 2003-2004
Phoenix, Arizona
Marc J. Philippon, MD
Complex & Advanced Hip Arthroscopic Procedures
Steadman Clinic / Steadman Surgical Skills Lab | 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Pedro A. Piza, M.D.
Post Fellowship: Physician, Tenet Florida Physician Services
Fellowship Year 2004-2005
Delray Beach / Boca Raton, Florida
Kevin D. Plancher, MD, MPH
Fellowship Director – Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Arthroplasty
Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine | 1160 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10128
Bioskills Cadaver Lab | 345 East 37th Street, Suite 312, NY, NY 10016
Alberto R. Rivera-Rosado, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2009-2010
Post Fellowship: Owner, Rivera Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Coamo, Puerto Rico
William I. Sterett, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, Arthroplasty, and Acute Trauma
Vail Summit Orthopaedics | 108 S Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657
William W. Stewart, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2012-2013
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mercy Clinic Orthopedic Surgery
Edmond, Oklahoma
Francesca M. Swartz, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2010-2011
Post Fellowship: Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida
Fort Meyers, Florida
Seth R. Miller, MD
Shoulder Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Paul M. Sethi, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Shoulder Arthroplasty
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
William D. Murrell, MD
Fellowship Year 2021-2022
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Gardner Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine/Institute for Mobility and Longevity
Ft. Meyers, FL
Tyler J. Brolin MD
Complex Shoulder Arthroplasty & Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics / 1400 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138
Thomas B. Evely, DO
Fellowship Year: 2020-2021
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, University of Alabama (UAB);
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine
Birmingham, Alabama
Clifford Voigt, MD
Fellowship Year 2021-2022
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY
Karthikeyan Chinnakkannu, MD
Fellowship Year: 2020-2021
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bronx Care Health System
Bronx, New York
Erik Carlson, MD
Shoulder Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Active Orthopaedics P.C. / 1579 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762
Marc S. Kowalsky, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Rachel M. Frank, MD
Sports Medicine and Cartilage Regeneration
CU Sports Medicine Center / 2000 S. Colorado Blvd., The Colorado Center Tower One, Suite 4500, Denver, CO 80222
CU Sports Medicine & Performance Center / 2150 Stadium Drive, Boulder, CO 80309
Orthopedics-Anschutz / 1635 Aurora Court, 4th Floor, Aurora, CO 80045
Max N. Seiter, MD
Shoulder, Hip and Knee Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Acute Trauma
Vail Summit Orthopaedics / 108 S Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657
Demetris Delos, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Armando F. Vidal, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Acute Trauma
The Steadman Clinic / 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Lauren M. Fabian, MD
Shoulder, Knee & Elbow Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic Specialty Group (OSG) / 305 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825 and 762 River Road, Shelton, CT 06484
R. Tim Greene, MD
Complex Hip Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Peter J. Millett, MD, MSc
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Shoulder Arthroplasty, and Sports Medicine
The Steadman Clinic / 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Jaya Shanmugam, M.D.
Fellowship Year: 2019-2020
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Pratt Regional Medical Center
Pratt, Kansas
Contact us about any ankle, knee, or shoulder injuries you’ve experienced this winter.