Dr. Renae Witt on Stem Cell Therapy for Achilles Tears

(Newswire.net — April 5, 2017) Tustin, California — Medical researchers in the United Kingdom have made a breakthrough in surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture. Medical specialists at the Royal Veterinary College in Liverpool first discovered the therapeutic benefits of stem cell therapy in repairing damaged tendons. Dr. Renae Witt, DPM, a podiatric specialist in Orange County, California, knows that this novel treatment may improve patient outcomes dramatically. “Stem cell therapy has been shown in a number of medical studies to provide great benefits to patients,” says Dr. Witt. “Further research into its role in Achilles tendon repair is warranted, but the early evidence suggests this therapy is a real breakthrough.” To learn more about stem cell therapy in repairing damaged tendons, visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4304254/Racehorse-repair-bet-fix-Achilles-tear.html.

Veterinary practitioners in Liverpool first treated a thoroughbred horse that was seriously injured in a competition in 2008. Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College isolated stem cells from the horse’s bone marrow, then reinjected the material into the damaged tendon. Less than a year after the treatment, the horse, Dream Alliance, went on to win the Welsh Grand National. Since then, thousands of competitive horses have received similar treatments, helping them to recover from dramatic injuries. Medical researchers from the Royal National Othopaedic Hospital in London studied the evidence collected by the veterinary specialists, noting that reinjury rates in the horses treated with stem cells had fallen by over 50 percent. The medical researchers also noted that tendon injuries in humans were identical in function to those suffered by horses, so stem cell therapy could also be effective in human applications. Using those details, the researchers were able to secure permission for a limited human trial of the procedure.

It is estimated that thousands of people suffer injuries to the Achilles tendon every year. The tendon, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone, provides support to the lower leg in humans. A tear or other tendon injury can impact mobility in addition to causing chronic pain. “Achilles tendon injuries are commonly treated with surgical intervention,” adds Dr. Renae Witt, who has treated many patients with tendon injuries at her Tustin clinic. “Adding stem cell therapy to the surgical intervention may improve recovery while strengthening the tendon against further damage.” For more information about Dr. Witt and her clinical podiatric practice, visit https://www.zocdoc.com/doctor/renae-witt-dpm-66869