Rafic Warwar provides essential oversight as chief administrator of the University of Miami (Florida) Health System. In his position, Rafic Warwar’s responsibilities include the system’s Sports Medicine Institute, which now uses adipose (fatty) tissue to relieve joint pain.
Cartilage serves as a cushion for the bones in the joints. Doctors can inject stem cells from fat in other parts of the body into the joint, where it develops into new cartilage. The procedure takes about an hour.
The treatment is not for everyone. There must be adequate room in the joint for a safe injection. If the existing cartilage is gone and bone is touching bone, joint replacement surgery is required.
The adipose method is best for persons with a body mass index below 35 who maintain physical therapy and have no conditions such as extensive arthritis, cancer, metabolic disease, and blood disorders. The new technique is used only after physical therapy and steroid injections have failed. For moderate cartilage deterioration, doctors also can use platelet-rich plasma injections, which may improve healing factors.
Looking toward the future, researchers hope to determine the correct protocols for individualized treatment.
