TRC

Mr Ali Noorani MBBs BSc (Hons) MRCS FRCS (Trauma and Orthopaedics), Medical Director and a leading orthopaedic consultant specialising in shoulder and…

The Mayo clinic reports that Chris Barr is back to walking and enjoying life on two feet after paralysis. It was only…

As England’s professional cricketers leave the British Winter for sunnier climes to tour the Southern hemisphere, a new report sheds light on the gentile sport of cricket. But rather than an enjoyable relaxed sport serious injury in cricket is on the rise.According to new data from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health 41.3% of all cricket injuries are sustained during bowling with wicket keeping second with 28.6% of all injuries.Cricket is a popular global sport that requires a combination of physical fitness, skill, and strategy. Although a noncontact sport, overuse and impact injuries are common since players engage in a wide range of physical activities, including running, throwing, batting, bowling, catching, and diving.While the incidence of injuries is about the same, the prevalence of injuries has increased due to game format changes, increasing number of matches played, and decreased rest between matches. Bowling (41.3%), fielding, and wicket keeping (28.6%) account for most injuries.Acute injuries are most common (64%-76%), followed by acute-on-chronic (16%-22.8%) and chronic ones (8%-22%). The most common modern-day cricket injury is hamstring strain, and the most severe is lumbar stress fracture in young fast bowlers.Although cricket is a non-contact sport, overuse and impact injuries are common since players engage in a wide range of physical activities, including running, throwing, batting, bowling, catching, jumping, and diving.Projectile injuries occur despite protection, since the 5.5 oz hard ball is bowled at the batsman at speeds of up to 160 km/h and can bounce off the pitch in an erratic fashion or swing through the air.Younger players (less than 24 years old) sustain more overuse and bowling injuries than older players. Lower limb injuries form nearly 49.8% of injuries, followed by back injuries (22.8%), upper limb injuries (23.3%), and neck injuries (4.1%).Hamstring and quadriceps strains formed the majority of lower limb injuries sustained primarily during bowling and fielding. Injuries to fingers primarily during batting and fielding predominate upper limb injuries (35.4%), and shoulder injuries (21.7%) occurred during throwing and bowling. Players in the West Indies sustained 40% of injuries during test matches, 32% during 1-day matches, and 28% outside of match play.The definition of a significant or match time-loss cricket injury is one that either prevents a player from being fully available for selection in a major match, or during a major match, causes a player to be unable to bat, bowl, or keep wicket when required by either the rules or the team’s captain.These injuries have been further differentiated based on the mode of onset: sudden-onset non-contact injuries (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] tear during knee twisting while fielding, ankle sprain during bowling run-up, rectus tear during sudden evasive action during batting), impact/traumatic injury (e.g. mallet finger during catching, fractured rib due to player collision during fielding), gradual onset associated with bowling/running/throwing/batting practice/weight-training (e.g. gradual onset low back pain in fast bowlers secondary to lumbar pars stress fracture), insidious (gradual and no identifiable mode of onset) (eg, anterior knee pain secondary to patella-femoral chondral degeneration in bowlers, posterosuperior shoulder pain during overhead throwing secondary to superior labral anteroposterior [SLAP] lesions), and medical illnesses (e.g. flu, gastroenteritis). These types of injuries have been included in the definition of cricket injuries since 2016 as these had the potential to affect cricket training or playing.Cricket is a global sport traditionally popular in the commonwealth nations but now being played in 105 member countries of the International Cricket Council. Cricket is the world’s second-most popular spectator sport after football and has captivated people of every age, sex, background, and ability for more than 400 years. A bat-and-ball game with complex rules, cricket involves physical fitness, skill, and strategy.Data was collected from peer-reviewed articles (obtained via PubMed search) published from November 2016 to 2018 that involved the medical, biomechanical, and epidemiological aspects of cricket injuries. Significant or match time-loss injuries were defined as those that either prevent a player from being fully available for selection in a major match, or during a major match, cause a player to be unable to bat, bowl, or keep wicket when required by either the rules or the team’s captain. This review describes the various region-wise injuries sustained in cricket along with their epidemiology, biomechanics, treatment, and prevention.Cricket was one of the first sports to publish recommended methods for injury surveillance in 2005 from England, South Africa, Australia, the West Indies, and India.New formats are blamed for the increase in severe injury: There are now 3 formats of cricket at the professional level based on the duration of the game: T20, 1-day, and test matches. T20 are intense, short-duration matches involving 20 overs (of 6 balls each) bowled by each team. One-day matches have each team bowling 50 overs each, whereas test matches last 5 days and have each team batting twice, with approximately 90 overs being bowled in a day.The full study can be found here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958448/

Over 35,000 patients have been treated worldwide with Lipogems® since it was patented in 2010 and it is now being widely used to treat injuries, lower levels of arthritis and degenerative conditions. We’d like to invite interested clinicians to attend an evening of education, networking and drinks where our leading orthopaedic consultants will outline how we use stem cell treatments, such as Lipogems®, and platelet rich plasma to treat sport injuries, arthritis and other degenerative conditions to avoid joint replacement or invasive surgery. Consultant Knee Specialist Professor Adrian Wilson will be joined by Shoulder and Elbow Specialist Mr Ali Noorani, Foot and Ankle Surgeon Mr Nima Heidari and Plastic Surgeon Mr Miles Banwell to outline the history, science and outcomes for Regenerative Treatments. To book your place, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-history-science-and-outcomes-for-regenerative-treatments-tickets-84126493607. AgendaThe History of Lipogems – Professor Adrian Wilson, Consultant Orthopaedic & Specialist Knee SurgeonThe Science behind Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) – Mr Ali Noorani, Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon, Shoulder, Elbow & Upper LimbOutcomes for Regenerative Treatments – Mr Nima Heidari, Consultant Orthopaedic & Specialist Foot & Ankle SurgeonThe Power of Fat – Mr Miles Banwell, Consultant Plastic SurgeonDateThursday 16th January 2020From 6.00pm (presentations start 7.00pm) until 9pmLocationQueen Anne Street Medical Centre18-22 Queen Anne StreetLondonW1G 8HA

Around 4 in 5 adults (that’s a whopping 80 per cent) of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. In a recent survey of thousands of people, more than a quarter of adults reported experiencing low back pain during the past 3 months.You are not alone, but of course the severity and duration of pain varies immensely. Men and women are equally affected by low back pain, which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person incapacitated. Pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine.Sedentary lifestyles can set the stage for low back pain, especially when a weekday routine of getting too little exercise is punctuated by strenuous weekend workout! Most back pain is acute, or short term, and lasts a few days to a few weeks. It tends to resolve on its own with self-care and there is no residual loss of function. The majority of acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back (the spine, muscle, intervertebral discs, and nerves) fit together and move.Subacute low back pain is defined as pain that lasts between 4 and 12 weeks. Though there is a long list of other back and spine pain which may be chronic and last a much longer time.But how can new regenerative treatments help with back pain?The human back is composed of a complex structure of muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and bones, which all work together to support the body and enable us to move around. When someone is suffering from back pain, they are often referring to the spine itself.The spine runs from the base of the skull down the length of the back, going all the way down to the pelvis. It is composed of 33 spool shaped bones called vertebrae – each about an inch thick stacked upon one another.The connection points between the vertebrae in the spine are referred to as facet joints which keep the spine aligned as it moves. These are lined with synovial which produces a viscous fluid to lubricate the joints.Between the individual vertebrae, discs serve as cushions and act as shock absorbers between the bones. Running through the centre of the spinal column is the spinal cord which is a bundle of nerve cells and fibres that transmit electrical signals back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. These signals are sent via 31 pairs of nerve bundles that branch off the spinal cord and exit the column between the vertebrae.The ligaments which support the spine are the anterior longitudinal ligament and the posterior longitudinal ligament.The spine itself – the body is the largest part of the vertebrae and the part of the spine which bears the most weight. The lamina is the lining of the spinal canal where the spinal cord runs.The two main muscle groups in the back function are the extensors – which include the many muscles that attach to the spine and work together to hold the back straight and enable extension, and the flexors – which attach at the lumbar spine (lower back) and enable you to bend forwards. The flexors are located at the front of the body e.g abdominal and hip muscles. Although the spine is a continuous structure, it is described as 5 separate units:1. The cervical spine – the neck and upper back and composed of the 7 vertebrae closest to the skull. It supports the weight and movement of the head and protects the nerves exiting the brain.2. The lumbar spine – the lower back, composed of 5 vertebrae and provides support for the majority of the body’s weight.3. The thoracic spine – the middle back, made up of the 12 vertebrae in between the cervical and lumbar spine.4. The sacrum – the base of the spine that is composed of 5 vertebrae fused as one solid unit. The sacrum attaches to the ilium of the pelvis forming the sacroiliac joints.5. The coccyx – the tailbone located below the sacrum composed of 4 fused vertebrae.Causes of back and spinal painUnderlying changes in the spine’s anatomy and mechanics are usually the cause of back pain. One of the most common issues in the lower back is a lumbar spinal disc. A spinal disc can cause pain from a herniated disc or from lumbar degenerative disc disease which is wear and tear on the spinal discs that causes chronic lower back pain.Other common causes of chronic back pain stem from issues in the joints and vertebrae including Osteoarthritis. Spinal osteoarthritis consists of wear and tear on the facet joints which causes excess friction when twisting or bending the spine. This friction can lead to bone spurs which pinch the nerve root and produce sciatica pain. Other symptoms include stiffness and tenderness around the joint.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is another cause. This joint connects the hip bone to the sacrum. When the joint experiences too much or too little motion, it may cause pain in the hips, the pelvis and lower back.Isthmian Spondylolisthesis is where one vertebral body slips forward over the vertebrae below it, straining the discs and joints at the spinal segment. Slippage is caused by a fracture in the back of the vertebrae and it causes lower back pain, stiffness, leg pain and numbness.Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal due to a bone spur, herniated disc, or other irritant which causes back pain but also severe leg pain due to the nerve-root irritation.Lower back pain is usually linked to the bony lumbar spine, but the upper back pain may be due to other disorders such as disorders of the aorta, tumours in the chest or spinal inflammation.Back pain can also be due to problems elsewhere in the body such as kidney stones, endometriosis or obesity.Back pain can be caused by injury such as sprains or spasms or structural issues including ruptured or bulging discs, by abnormal curvature of the spine due to conditions such as scoliosis, kidney problems, spinal infections, shingles, cancer, and cauda equine syndrome. Cauda equine syndrome causes pain and numbness in the lower back and buttocks from the spinal nerve roots.Non invasive treatment is always considered before the decision to require surgery.Doctors can sometimes use injections or implanted devices to deliver immediate back pain relief. Injections can include epidural steroid injections. When inflammation within the spinal column causes nerve root irritation and swelling these injections help to reduce inflammation and ease pain. The injections relieve pain within the week and last from several days to months.Other injections include a Selective Nerve Root Block, which numbs the area where the nerve root is compressed or inflamed, a Facet Joint Block where the joint is directly targeted, Facet Neurotomy where a heated needle is used to burn and disable the responsible nerve, a Sacroiliac Joint Block where the joint connected to the pelvis is injected, and Trigger Point injections where local anaesthetic is injected into painful trigger points.Implantable devices are also sometimes used such as a Spinal Cord Stimulation which decreases the perception of pain by activating nerves in the lower back to block the pain signals to that area, and by using Implanted Drug Infusions, where a pump is implanted into the body to deliver regular doses of pain medication via a tube into the painful area of the spine.Alternative therapies are also considered to help with pain such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation to either massage the soft tissue around the spine or to manipulate the ligaments or vertebrae. Manipulation is used for injury, damage or sprains to the muscles or ligaments.Stem Cell TherapyAnother non invasive treatment to consider as opposed to risking complicated surgeries is stem cell therapy. Back pain caused by bulging or herniated discs, degenerative conditions of the spine or injury can be treated with stem cell therapy – AMPP®, Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma using Lipogems® technology and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. Depending on the root of the back pain, these treatments can be injected into the discs (intradiscal), facet joints and paraspinal muscle. PRP therapy is an effective and safe alternative to surgery. It takes advantage of the bloods natural healing properties to reduce pain and improve the joint function. The injections use a specially concentrated dose of platelets prepared from the patients own blood. Essentially, your own cells are used to encourage healing. With this procedure there is no chance of rejection, infection or contamination. It repairs damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bone. AMPP® – Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma using Lipogems® technology uses the body’s own stem cells to treat pain and inflammation. The minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to surgery and can help healing in post operative care. These injections harness the natural repair cells removed from body fat to alleviate pain in spinal discs, joints, ligament and muscles.These injections can be used to treat arthritis of the spine, facet joint syndrome, bulging or collapsed disc, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and spondylosis among others.SurgerySurgery for back pain is only considered if all non surgical treatments including the above, have not proved to be effective. It is always a patient lead decision an only performed immediately very rarely.Because back pain is always so varied, complex and difficult to pin point and describe the root cause, there are a number of differing procedures to alleviate and remedy back and spinal issues.Decompression SurgeryThis is a common surgical procedure used to alleviate lower back pain caused by pinched nerves.Lumbar Microdiscectomy is one of the most minimally invasive procedures that can be done to alleviate pain associated with nerve root irritation. In this surgery a relatively small incision is made in the lower back and the portion of the herniation that is in contact with the nerve root is pulled out. The goal is to relieve symptoms associated with pressure at the nerve root and has a 90-95% success rate in providing relief from buttock and leg pain.Often the pain relief is instant but if neurological symptoms had also been experienced prior to surgery, it may take longer for the nerve to heal and the patient may still suffer from weakness and numbness for several months to a year. For some patients the symptoms may improve but never be fully resolved.A Lumbar Laminectomy is most commonly performed to treat lumbar spine stenosis symptoms. During this procedure the lamina (bone in the back of the vertebra) at one or more segments is removed with the goal of alleviating pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. It is a surgery performed to enlarge the spinal column when spinal stenosis causes pressure on the nerve roots. It involves removing the backside of the spinal canal that forms a roof over the spinal cord. Along with the lamina, doctors often remove any bony protrusions or spurs which may have resulted due to osteoporosis of the spine.Spinal FusionThe spinal fusion is a welding process by which two or more vertebrae are fused together to form a single immobile unit. It is used to stop the motion that normally occurs between the vertebrae and, in doing so, alleviates pain that is aggregated by movement, such as bending, twisting, or lifting. It can be performed to stabilise a spine that has been damaged by infections or tumours, or to stop the progression of a spinal deformity, such as scoliosis , or to treat injuries of the vertebrae and stabilise due to a defect in the facet joint.Spinal fusion can sometimes be performed in addition to the Laminectomy in order to achieve adequate decompression off the nerve root, especially if the nerve root is compressed as it leaves the spine. This is known as foraminal stenosis.Foraminal stenosis is difficult to decompress simply by removing bone as if the bone is fully removed in the location of the foramen, it is necessary to also remove the facet joint which leads to instability. Spinal fusion is needed to provide the stability.Spinal fusion surgery is designed to stop the motion at these painful vertebral segments which decreases pain generated from the joint.The procedure involves:– Adding bone graft to a segment of the spine– Setting up a biological response that causes bone graft to grow between the two vertebral elements to create bone fusion.– The boney fusion results in one fixed bone replacing a mobile joint and stops the motion at that joint segment.At each level in the spine there is a disc space in the front and paired facet joints in the back which work together to permit multiple degrees of motion. Two vertebral segments need to be fused together to stop the motion at one segment. The surgery involves using bone graft to cause two vertebral bodies to grow together into one long bone. Bone graft can be taken from the patients hip during the surgery, or harvested from cadaver bone, or manufactured from a synthetic bone graft substitute.There are differing approaches such as Posterolateral gutter fusion – through the back, Posterior lumbar interbody fusion – through the back and includes removing the disc between two vertebrae and inserting bone, Anterior/ Posterior spinal fusion, Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, and Extreme lateral interbody fusion.Fusion patients will often have a weak and unstable spine caused by infections, tumours, fractures, scoliosis, or deformity, and there will always be a risk of clinical failure, remaining pain, despite a successful fusion.DiscectomyThis is the removal of part of a disc that is herniated and causing pain. There are two kinds: Percutaneous – which involves removing a portion of the disc using a laser or suction device through a narrow probe placed through a small incision in the back.Microsurgical – which requires a small incision where the surgeon, using a microscope, removes the damaged portion of the disc along with a small portion of the bone covering the spinal canal.Vertebroplasy and KyphoplastyThese two similar procedures are performed to relieve the pain and other problems associated with compression fractures of the vertebrae. Both involve bolstering fracture bone with a cement like material that is injected into the vertebrae through a needle. Although the two procedures are essentially the same, Kyphoplasty involves an additional step of inserting a small balloon like device into the compressed vertebrae and inflating. This step helps to restore height to the crumbled vertebrae and reduce the deformity.Newer types of surgery include inserting a replacement disk for an alternative to fusion for degenerative disk disease or using a posterior motion device which can aid stenosis and mild degenerative spondylothesis. They provide similar results to fusion but with a smaller surgery and faster recovery times. These procedures, however, are still gathering the necessary long term data.With surgery on the spine and spinal cord, the complications can be serious. There are risks such as bleeding, blood clots, infection and stroke, but also the risk of a herniated disc and significant further nerve damage involving subsequent pain and impairment and the need for additional surgery. It usually takes 3 – 12 months after spinal surgery for the patient to return to any normal daily activities, longer for the backbone to completely heal but the success in pain relief has proven to be successful in 70-90% of patients.

As reported in the Daily Mail the stem cell revolution may prove to be as, “significant as antibiotics and organ transplantation”.In a major piece of reporting Daily Mail journalists, Jo Waters meets four people whose lives have been transformed by various applications of stem cell technology; to treat Crohn’s disease; multiple sclerosis (MS);Jo Waters writes; “Stem cells are the human body’s raw material for repairing itself. They can self-renew or turn into a specific type of cell, such as blood or muscle cells, and offer huge potential for treating a range of conditions, from worn-out knees to damaged hearts.”“They are not all the same: embryonic stem cells, sourced from human embryos, can become any type of cell in the body; adult stem cells, which are harvested from (your own or donor) bone marrow or fat tissue have more limited use; and a third group called induced pluripotent stem cells are produced by reprogramming normal adult stem cells so they act like embryonic cells.”Multiple sclerosisReema Sandhu, is an account manager, lives in Bracknell, Berkshire, with husband and young son. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in November 2015 after burning her face on a lamp. She was unaware she was touching it as her cheek had gone numb. An MRI scan showed lesions on her brain and spine. A lumbar puncture confirmed MS — where the immune system attacks the protective fatty myelin sheath that surrounds nerves. It causes muscle spasms, stiffness, bladder problems and memory problems. I also had a rash and felt so tired.After unsuccessful medical treatments and being rejected from clinical trials she raised £70,000 through savings, money from family and a GoFundMe website. Immediately brain fog improved and she could concentrate better. By the second month, her vision was back to normal and since then she has been able to go back to the gym, run after her son and even go to work. She still has spasticity in her right side but all the signs so far are that stem cells have halted the progression of her MS.Repairing a failing heartDave Randle, 49, a tour bus driver for rock bands, lives in Willenhall, West Midlands, and had stem cell treatment after having a heart attack in March 2016. Having been fit and active, the heart failure he felt so weak that he could barely walk upstairs. If he lay flat, fluid would build up in his lungs and he would struggle to breathe.After refusing a ventricular assist device (LVAD), a surgically implanted heart pump, his consultant warned him that he would be dead by Christmas that year.After reading about stem cells for damaged hearts, his consultant said such treatment was years away so he rang the Heart Cells Foundation charity and after assessment it paid for him to have treatment at St Bart’s Hospital in London.The stem cells were reinfused back into his heart and he started to feel better within weeks. Before he was preparing to die and now, instead, he is planning an 800-mile bike ride to raise money for others to have the treatment.CancerGeorge Norton, 37, a web content strategist, lives in Streatham, South London, with wife and son Emanuele. George was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a form of blood cancer, in 2005 and received a stem cell transplant in March 2014 after a relapse. He says:When he relapsed doctors gave him only 30 per cent of surviving. It was devastating after getting married and restarting his career after being ill initially. He was put onto chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy with the aim of then having a stem cell transplant from a donor found through the Anthony Nolan charity, which runs a bone marrow donor register.On the 100th day after treatment, his wife took him to Brussels on Eurostar for a celebratory lunch. His donor, Tim, who had registered as a donor at university was a similar age to me and lived nearby and they have since become godparents to each other’s children.Crohn’s diseaseDeepan Shah, 31, a telecoms engineer, who lives in Hounslow, West London tells Jo that after having Crohn’s disease since childhood, leaving him permanently fatigued and suffering from diarrhoea, cramping and mood swings. Aged 20 he had part of his bowel removed and a stoma bag attached to collect waste. Medicine never worked and his weight plummeted. He is 5ft 2inches tall so the disease also affected his growth.In 2010 he began a trial at the Royal London Hospital testing stem cell as a way of rebooting the immune system. The treatment involved chemotherapy to destroy faulty immune cells and injections of growth factors to make stem cells in bone marrow spill out into the blood stream. He still has Crohn’s, but can lead a normal life. His body now reacts to medication and his condition can be treated.This piece was first published in its original form at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7674229/Patients-reveal-reaped-remarkable-benefits-stem-cells.htm

The Regenerative Clinic celebrates a good CQC rating across five crucial areas.In The Regenerative Clinic’s first ever inspection, which took place on the 23rd September 2019, services across the clinic were found to be of ‘good’ quality. Inspectors, who gave only 24 hours notice of their full rigorous inspection, gave the rating across all categories assessed.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. As a body it sets and assesses standards of care across the healthcare industry in England and is run by a board of independent experts.Using detailed methodology and interviews the assessment asked: are services safe?; are services effective?; are services caring?; are services responsive?; and are services well-led?Their assessment states that The Regenerative Clinic meets and exceeds their standards in all of these crucial areas, and that The Regenerative Clinic is a good healthcare clinic overall in its performance.Simon Checkley, CEO, The Regenerative Clinic says; “This is an incredible endorsement for our team. I am so proud of the work they have done over the last two years to establish our clinic, and in doing so establish a global centre of excellence for regenerative treatments. We have gone out of our way to provide an outstanding service for our patients, and in rigorously recording their experiences are innovating an entire new treatment pathway for conditions like osteoarthritis in the future. The Clinic is only as good as the world-class team that we have assembled, and our thanks and congratulations go to our team of surgeons, clinicians, nurses and administrators for the part they have played in our success to date. Here’s to a great future.”The Regenerative Clinic has pioneered rejuvenating therapies and orthobiologics around the world, providing pioneering treatment for healing, pain relief and rejuvenation of joints and other tissues to restore mobility and function. The Clinic is led by Professor Adrian Wilson and his team of specialist Harley Street consultants, each one an expert in their own field (orthopaedic, radiology, gynaecological, spine, maxillofacial and cosmetic).The Clinic offers a variety of treatments from its Harley Street Area clinic on Queen Anne Street. Treatments include Lipogems, which has now been conducted on over 40,000 patients worldwide. The Lipogems® technology prepares fat cells to trigger a healing response when injected directly into the affected area. The cells detect injury and attach themselves to damage where they react and regrow tissue. These pre-cursor stem cells have a pro-antibiotic effect that reduces pain and inflammation.The clinic also offers Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) which involves drawing blood from a vein in the arm and processing the blood in a centrifuge to extract the platelet rich part of the blood; AMPP is a combination treatment of Lipogems® and PRP which is then injected into the area or areas causing pain under ultrasound guidance.For further information, hi res images, interviews with Simon Checkley and case studies please contact Helen Trevorrow or Vicky Hague at Green Row on 0794 000 9138 or email helen@greenrow.co.uk

It is great to be featured in the Daily Mail today on new treatments and approaches to traditional knee arthroplasty (replacement). The article discusses treatments such as Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) as well as our Lipogems® procedure. Perhaps you have seen the article and have questions or if you have not and want to know more, contact us today on 0330 2233332.Simon Checkley, CEO, The Regenerative Clinic “Thanks to Victoria Lambert and Angela Raynes for talking about our ground breaking treatments. We are delighted to be helping so many people now in the UK, and in other countries too. Though our records only go back 2 – 3 years to 2016, we expect that our treatments will last much much longer than that, and are working hard to record the data to prove it.The story was originally reported by The Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7724751/Achy-joint-treatments-bees-knees.html

Al Murray’s six-year-old nephew Finley Relf has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia and needs a transplant before Christmas.Murray has appealed for people to sign the blood stem cell register. Finley has a rare and aggressive form of the disease and his only hope is a bone marrow transplant.Finley’s parents Ben and Nicky Relf became alarmed when their son started losing weight and sought medical advice. Doctors diagnosed juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML), a rare type of blood disorder that occurs in young children.Finley, from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, is undergoing chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.Murray, famous for his Pub Landlord character, told Sky News: “Finley is undergoing chemotherapy but his best chance of fighting the disease is a bone marrow transplant. He has JMML, a super-rare leukaemia and 12 kids a year get it probably, and he needs a blood stem cell transplant.”Murray said Finley was undergoing “gruelling” treatment but was a “chirpy six-year-old who wants to run around and go swimming. He’s critically ill, there is a 50/50 chance of him surviving and without the transplant, there is no cure for JMML.”“We are looking for something as precise as a fingerprint. Someone out there is your genetic twin which is kind of what we are looking for. Go to the website, put your info in, find out if you are eligible and then the charity will send you a pack. You run a swab around the inside of your cheek, you send it back and then you are on the register. It really is as simple as that. You could be saving someone’s life by doing something that is so quick and easy to do.”Murray said Finley needs a transplant “before Christmas, this has got to happen right away”.Jonathan Pearce, chief executive of the blood stem cell charity DKMS, which is looking for a donor for Finley, said: “Even though we are working with Al Murray in very sad and serious circumstances, he is doing fantastic work with us to highlight that only 2% of the UK population are on the blood stem registry.“We desperately need more people to come forward as donors if we’re to find a match for every person with blood cancer.“Blood cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK, and at any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a blood stem cell transplant. I would urge anyone between 17 and 55 and in general good health to request a swab kit from dkms.org.uk so we can help find a match for Al’s nephew Finley and all the other people that need one.”The story was originally reported by Sky News : https://news.sky.com/story/al-murray-appeals-for-people-to-sign-stem-cell-register-after-nephew-is-struck-by-rare-blood-disorder-11863254

Orthopaedic specialists at NHS Golden Jubilee have carried out a study which could give elite cyclists a competitive edge by using a shorter pedal crank.Golden Jubilee’s Orthopaedic Research Team used a state-of-the-art motion capture system to collect data on patients who have had hip or knee replacement surgery.This 3D motion capture system is commonly used in Hollywood to transform actors into superheroes and create other special effects but it can also be used to measure and examine human motion, helping to improve orthopaedic care for future patients.The trail successfully determined if the length of the bike’s crank – the stem which leads from the pedal to the chain cog – can have an effect on power production in an aerodynamic time trial position and whether it impacted on speed.The results collected saw an average power increase of 4.33%, and an average gain in theoretical speed of 2.07% for all participants who used shorter cranks.In addition to this, subjects who took part said they felt a reduced strain on hamstrings, hip flexors and gluteal muscles, aiding recovery and reducing overall strain.Golden Jubilee Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Jon Clarke, who was involved in the research, said: “The results of this trial have shown that using shorter bicycle cranks when cycling in an aerodynamic time trial position improves sustainable power output and final race speed.”“Therefore, shorter cranks may be used to obtain a competitive advantage while, from an injury prevention perspective, shorter cranks may also be beneficial as subjects reported feeling more comfortable in the aerodynamic position with the shorter cranks.”The trial included three 20-minute maximal cycling tests on three separate days. Power output and heart rate data was recorded for each of the tests and the frontal area of the subject was measured to calculate theoretical speed in a different position.