Regenerative Treatments for the Knee
What Are They?
PRP & BMAC for Knee Conditions
Regenerative treatments use components taken from your own body to support the body's natural response to injured or degenerative tissue.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from a small sample of your blood. After processing, the concentrated platelets are injected into the area being treated. The platelets contain growth factors and other signaling proteins that may support the body's healing response.
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is obtained from your own bone marrow and concentrated before treatment. It contains a mixture of cells and signaling factors that may support tissue repair and recovery.
These treatments are not designed to simply mask pain. The goal is to address the biological environment around the injured or degenerative tissue. However, neither treatment can guarantee that damaged cartilage, tendons, or other structures will completely regenerate.
What To Expect
How Regenerative Treatment May Help
Depending on your diagnosis, PRP or BMAC may be considered for:
- Knee osteoarthritis, particularly when symptoms are not yet at the point where joint replacement is the only reasonable option
- Selected cartilage or degenerative conditions
- Tendon problems around the knee
- Certain sports-related or overuse injuries
- Persistent symptoms that have not adequately improved with physical therapy and other conservative treatments
PRP has been studied extensively for knee osteoarthritis, with evidence suggesting that it may reduce pain and improve function for some patients. However, results vary, and the quality and preparation of PRP differ between studies and treatment protocols.
BMAC is a different type of biologic treatment, and the evidence is still developing. It should not be presented as a guaranteed cartilage-restoring treatment or a replacement for knee replacement when the joint is severely damaged.
PRP or BMAC?
Which Treatment Is Right for Me?
PRP may be considered when:
- You have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis or a selected tendon problem
- You want to explore a nonsurgical treatment
- Physical therapy and other conservative measures have not provided enough relief
- Your condition is appropriate for a platelet-based treatment
BMAC may be considered when:
- You have a degenerative or tissue-related knee condition that may be appropriate for a bone marrow-based treatment
- You have persistent symptoms despite other nonsurgical care
- You want to explore a regenerative option before considering surgery
- Dr. Thon believes the potential benefits justify the treatment for your specific condition
There is no single regenerative treatment that is right for every knee. Dr. Thon will look at your symptoms, physical examination, imaging, activity goals, and the severity of the underlying damage before recommending PRP, BMAC, another treatment, or surgery.
Am I a Candidate?
Regenerative treatment may be a good option if:
- Your knee condition is appropriate for a biologic treatment
- You have persistent pain despite appropriate conservative care
- You are trying to remain active without moving immediately to surgery
- Your imaging shows a condition that may reasonably respond to treatment
- You understand that the goal may be symptom improvement rather than complete restoration of damaged tissue
It may not be the right fit if:
- You have advanced joint destruction that is unlikely to respond to an injection
- You have substantial mechanical symptoms or instability requiring surgical treatment
- You have significant loss of function that cannot reasonably be addressed with an injection
- You are expecting regenerative treatment to completely rebuild worn cartilage
Dr. Thon will give you an honest assessment of whether regenerative treatment has a realistic role in your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Regenerative Treatment
Not necessarily. PRP and BMAC work differently, and there is not a single treatment that is proven to be best for every patient. Dr. Thon will consider the type and severity of your knee problem when deciding whether either treatment is appropriate.
That depends on how advanced your knee damage is. Regenerative treatment may be reasonable for some patients who are not yet ready for or do not yet need knee replacement. It cannot reliably reverse advanced arthritis.
The next step depends on why your knee still hurts. Regenerative treatment may be an option for some conditions, while others may require a different intervention. Dr. Thon will help determine what makes sense based on the underlying problem.
These treatments generally do not provide an immediate fix. Improvement, when it occurs, is usually gradual and may take several weeks.
Your return to activity will depend on what is being treated and how much protection the tissue needs. Dr. Thon can give you a specific progression based on your diagnosis and activity goals.
In many cases, regenerative treatment can be tried before surgery when the condition allows time for a nonsurgical approach. If it does not provide enough improvement, Dr. Thon can reassess your options