17 Aug The Art and Science of High Definition Ultrasound in Joint and Soft Tissue Rejuvenation
By Suzi Harkola
The pain of arthritis or injury in joints and soft tissues can be debilitating and excruciating. For years, the only option was highly invasive surgery, with extended periods of rehabilitation and limited mobility. Patients undergoing this type of treatment often feel depressed, isolated, compromised and – all too often – still in pain.
Alternatives to surgery are coming into their own. While not for every situation, non-surgical techniques can often rejuvenate bone and repair soft tissue damage.
A Sarasota medical facility, Gecko Joint & Spine, is one of the leading providers of rejuvenation therapy, and has been for well over a decade. Using injections of Prolozone, stem cells and platelet rich plasma, Gecko’s medical team has perfected the art and science of joint repair without surgery. The clinic has become a mecca for people from around the world to experience pain relief through injection therapy.
One key to Gecko’s success, according to John Lieurance, D.C., is the use of high definition ultrasound (US) to pinpoint, literally, the exact site for the injections. “We specialize in preparation for the injections,” he explained, “and the high def US shows us exactly what’s wrong so we can isolate the injection location. Ultrasound is actually better than an MRI or X-ray to identify damage to tendons, ligaments and soft tissue, and to visualize abnormal fluid. It’s immediate, and gives us a hands-on analysis of the musculoskeletal system. Most importantly, it ensures accurate, efficient and often less painful procedures because of the accuracy it provides for the injection.”
Prolozone injections are a major procedure at Gecko, and the team has seen excellent patient results. When Prolozone is injected into a joint or ligament, it can stimulate the fibroblastic joint repairing abilities. The treatment helps activate stem cells to “kick-start” the healing process and encourage the growth of new cartilage and ligament tissue in areas where the ligaments have become weak. Wellington Chen, M.D., at Gecko, has been successfully using Prolozone therapy for eight years.
Dr. Chen explains, “Ligaments are the structural ‘rubber bands’ that hold bones to bones in joints; you could call them the body’s shock absorbers. Ligaments that are weak or injured may not heal back to their original strength, length or endurance. This is largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, and therefore healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments also have many nerve endings, and therefore the person will feel pain at the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose. Often our high definition ultrasound can detect damage that even MRI can miss. I can then utilize the ultrasound image to guide my needle placement to the exact spot that is damaged.”
Lieurance adds, “Ultrasound greatly improves our ability to diagnose an injury or damage and to guide our injections to precisely the area that needs to be healed. This has important implications for accurate administration of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Stem Cells and Prolozone.”
Under Lieurance’s direction, Gecko is leading the way in utilizing technology with ultrasound to enhance patient care. Professional sports including most European soccer clubs and now the NBA are taking advantage of its many benefits, he noted. At Gecko, the doctors are seeing professional athletes, celebrities and high profile clientele from many professions who are turning to injection rejuvenation for relief and repair.
“This is an area that is prompting high-level scientific study,” he adds. “We at Gecko are involved in a research study with the Bio Sciences Research Center at Harvard University on a special process of purifying stem cells from bone marrow using a system designed by Emcyte Corporation. It’s just one example of how we stay cutting edge in the field.”
Lieurance noted that the team has had incredible success with AmnioFix injections in repairing rotator cuff injuries, again using US to position the injection. “This is an FDA-approved, very powerful injection that, when used in combination with PRP, has shown remarkable results.”
Gecko Joint & Spine specializes in Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, Prolotherapy, Prolozone/Ozone therapies, Glutathione therapies and Exercise with Oxygen therapy. Learn more about these modalities on their website, where you’ll also find informative FAQs, webinars, brochures and more about this fascinating, emerging alternative to surgery.
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