BACK IN ACTION: Stem Cell Knee Procedure Gets Middle Aged Athlete Back On Slopes, Court

By  //  August 28, 2017

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE • STEM CELL THERAPY

DR. JOHN HERMANDORFER, above left, harvested cells from Giles Malone’s left tibia, and injected these into Malone’s left knee. As Giles Malone, above on the ski slopes of Utah in January, sprinted into his 50s, he began noticing that his knees were getting sore with his active lifestyle. Unfortunately, the years finally decided it was payback time for all that stress on his knees.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – As Giles Malone sprinted into his 50s, he began noticing that his knees weren’t keeping up with his active lifestyle.

Malone, a partner/owner with Maverick Multimedia and Brevard Productions, is an avid weekend – make it weekday – warrior who can’t get enough of skiing, tennis and golf and working out at the gym.

The avid athlete played soccer for Bristol City youth in England and at the University of Louisiana.

He was an intergral part of the coaching staff with Florida Tech’s soccer team, which won two NCAA championships. Unfortunately, the years finally decided it was payback time for all that soccer on his knees.

“My left knee would be sore after working out several days in a row,” said Malone. “I have lots of mileage on that knee.”

Giles Malone, (#8) was an avid athlete playing soccer for Bristol City youth in England, Cocoa Beach High School and at the NCAA Div. 1 University of Louisiana. He helped coach Florida Tech’s soccer team to two NCAA championships. Unfortunately, the years finally decided it was payback time for all that stress on his knees.

His 85-year-old father has had both knees replaced, and his 61-year-old brother has gone through the procedure once. Malone wanted to stave off, or possibly nix altogether, the possibility of a knee replacement, so he turned to treatment that is less invasive and much more holistic.

“Being familiar with the success stories from the many people who have received treatment from Dr. Hermansdorfer, I opted to go the route of stem cell therapy,” said Malone. “This could save my knees later in life.”

Malone was also impressed that Dr. John Hermansdorfer, who has a well-deserved reputation of excellence in traditional orthopedic procedures, would be handling his case.

“The fact that these physicians with stellar reputations believe in stem cell therapy, tells me that this is a really viable option,” said Malone.

Hermansdorfer has done extensive research on regenerative medicine.

Hermansdorfer, a 1982 graduate of the University of Kentucky Medical School, completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Florida and received fellowship training in hand surgery at the Indiana Center for Surgery and Rehabilitation of the Hand in Indianapolis.

DR. JOHN HERMANSDORFER’s treatment was performed in conjunction with a knee arthroscopy, a surgical procedure that allows doctors to treat the joint without the need for a large incision. Hermansdorfer debrided damaged cartilage from the patient’s knee using miniature surgical instruments, at left, inserted through an arthroscope, an instrument about the diameter of a soda straw and fitted with a miniature camera, a light source and precision instruments at the end of flexible tubes.

‘HIGH OCTANE’ AMNION CELLS

Recently, Malone underwent the elective procedure, which harvested cells from his tibia, and injected these into his knee.

The treatment was performed in conjunction with a knee arthroscopy, a surgical procedure that allows doctors to treat the joint without the need for a large incision.

Hermansdorfer debrided damaged cartilage from Malone’s knee using miniature surgical instruments inserted through an arthroscope, an instrument about the diameter of a soda straw and fitted with a miniature camera, a light source and precision instruments at the end of flexible tubes.

“It was not just one procedure, but a combination of procedures to obtain optimal results,” said Hermansdorfer.

Malone was the perfect candidate for the stem cell procedure – in strong physical condition, with the knee in solid shape – just lots of mileage.

“He is the typical middle-aged athlete,” said Hermansdorfer. “When they get older, these individuals start to pay the price.”

Before the advent of stem cell therapy, options for Malone would have been minimal.

“This is a much better option than pills or cortisone shots, which can have a damaging effect over time,” said Hermansdorfer.

Malone is not alone in his pain. Joint and spinal pain are a common complaint, and invasive surgery for these issues requires significant downtime with true success often elusive.

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BioCellular Therapies’ regenerative cell treatment, on the other hand, is a kinder, gentler and definitely viable alternative for individuals suffering from osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease or sports injuries.

Regenerative cells repair muscle, tendon, ligament and cartilage and they do it quickly.

“There is no question it works,” said Hermansdorfer. “Research shows good results. It enhances cartilage growth, which allows us to move our joints without pain.”

Interest in this type of treatment is so high that individuals from outside the United States have scheduled treatment with BioCellular Therapies, located in Melbourne.

“We have had patients from their teens to their 80s,” said Hermansdorfer. “It’s so simple, it’s so safe.”

However, not everyone is an appropriate a candidate as Malone was.

“Age of the patient is not an issue, but rather the severity of the problem,” said

Hermansdorfer, recounting an 80-plus-year-old patient who was also a perfect candidate because the cartilage in her knee had not yet been worn down beyond repair.

“We have to have a reasonable amount of cartilage left.”

SPACE COAST DAILY TV MEDICAL SEMINAR SERIES: Dr. Mark Pinsky and Jim Eaker, experts at BioCellular Therapies in Melbourne, Florida, talk with Giles Malone about the revolution in contouring and tightening your face, neck and body; and body rejuvenation, including the Vampire Facelift and Breastlift, and the O-Shot®. The pursuit of youth and beauty has become an easier journey along the Space Coast with the introduction recently by BioCellular Therapies of the Vivace RF microneedling system, used in conjunction with amnion-based gels and creams for optimum performance in promoting the development of collagen for easing fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin.

RAPID RECOVERY, LITTLE PAIN

For the arthroscopy and stem cell therapy, Malone arrived at Atlantic Orthopedic Surgery at 9 a.m. By noon, he was home. Afterwards, he needed no pain killers other than Tylenol. Although he used a cane for a couple of days, he soon ditched it.

“There was little down time,” he said.

Because of the arthroscopy component, Malone opted for general anesthesia, but stem cell treatments can be performed in an office setting under a local block.

Six weeks after the procedure, Malone should be back to participating in the sports he loves. The two small incisions required for the arthroscopy already are now invisible. Another of Hermansdorfer’s patients, a marathon runner, returned to marathons six weeks after receiving the stem cells.

Compare Malone’s experience with that of a patient undergoing knee replacement surgery. The individual is expected to be on crutches for six weeks. Pain can be significant, too.

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Not only is downtime for stem cell therapy almost non-existent, but it is also a quick and painless endeavor. Harvesting and mixing the cells requires minimal time.

“It just takes five minutes,” said Hermansdorfer.

The cells are reinserted into the patient’s body through micro-fracturing.

“They do tiny holes in the bone so it better accepts the stem cells,” explained Malone. “I compare it to turning up the soil to better grow plants.”

Using the super cells found in the patient’s own bone marrow optimizes healing and reduces risk.
“This is so much more natural medicine,” said Hermansdorfer.

BioCellular Therapies is at 2290 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 210, Melbourne. For more information on the practice’s hair restoration services, call 321-435-1505 or visit BiocellularTherapies.com

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