Is Wharton's jelly the new gold standard for hip cartilage repair?

New study shows promising results for allograft from Regenative Labs

PENSACOLA, Fla., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 350,000 hip replacements are performed in the U.S. each year. Typically, patients in need of hip cartilage repairs seek minimally invasive options first, making Wharton's jelly a promising alternative for musculoskeletal defects.

A recent study, titled Retrospective Evaluation of Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Allografts in the Supplementation of Cartilage Defects Associated with Hip Osteoarthritis, showed that patients reported less pain and stiffness when receiving an application of a Wharton's Jelly allograft from Regenative Labs. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement of patient-reported pain, quality of life, and functionality scales after applying Wharton's jelly in hip defects.

Dr. Albert Lai of Desert Pain Specialists and Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine in California and Dr. Conrad Tamea of Orthopedic Associates of Tampa Bay participated in the study. A double board-certified physician with specialties in physical medicine rehabilitation and pain medicine, Dr. Lai said the Wharton's jelly therapy was providing relief for their patients.

"Incorporating Wharton's jelly into our practice has provided an effective conservative option for patients with hip defects that outperforms conventional therapies," said Dr. Lai. "Using the structural connective tissue allografts has allowed many patients to avoid surgery altogether and significantly improve their quality of life."

The study follows 69 patients with hip defects from 26 private practices who received an application of a Wharton's jelly allograft from Regenative Labs. Prior to the study, these patients had failed at least 8 weeks of conservative treatment.

Patient outcomes were tracked on a 90-day calendar using three scales including the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Quality of Life Scales (QOLS), and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) covering pain, stiffness, and functionality. There were statistically significant differences between the initial application and day 90 for the NPRS and WOMAC scales.

The application of Wharton's jelly allografts in this retrospective cohort was observed to promote decreases in patient-reported NPRS scores, pain and stiffness and to improve function. These improvements were consistent across age groups but were most notable for the elderly, who generally have a slower and less effective recovery rate after conservative treatment and surgical procedures.

Because of the success shown by NPRS and WOMAC in decreasing pain in the elderly population, Regenative Labs CEO Tyler Barrett said more studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Wharton's Jelly, specifically in patients older than 65.

"Total hip replacements by Medicare alone are estimated to make up somewhere between $7 billion to $10 billion in annual healthcare expenditures in the U.S. It's clear that the need for this type of research is necessary and quite frankly overdue," said Barrett.

The positive results from this study and the current literature provide a foundation to study applications of Wharton's Jelly in other musculoskeletal injuries to ultimately improve the quality of life and reduce the economic burden of multiple conservative treatments or surgical procedures. Dr. Tamea said Wharton's jelly allografts have reduced pain and stiffness for his patients — and in some cases — reduced the need for surgery.

"As a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with more than 25 years of operative experience, I can say after using Wharton's jelly allografts in more than 200 cases, I have found them to be extremely beneficial to my patients," said Dr. Tamea. "Orthopedic applications using Wharton's jelly — including in the knee, shoulder, hip, and spine — are more often than not preventing the need for surgery that results in a prolonged recovery time, lost wages and great financial cost."

Barrett and the Regenative Labs' team hope to enlist physicians to take part in studies regarding uncovered uses. Physicians will have their outcomes highlighted, furthering the understanding of regenerative medicine and uncovering new applications for this groundbreaking field.

Physicians can contact Regenative Labs to get their practice involved today.

Read the full study here.

Wharton's jelly explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeLt-SKpsnc

About Regenative Labs
Regenative Labs produces regenerative medicine products to address the root cause of a patient's debilitating situation using Wharton's Jelly innovations rather than masking the pain with other treatments. Regenative Labs works closely with scientists, physicians, hospitals, and surgery centers to constantly monitor and improve patient progress and outcomes for new product development. Formed by veteran industry professionals familiar with the daily challenges of innovations in healthcare, the company provides effective and minimally invasive options for patients. Regenative Labs' expert product research and development team complies with FDA guidelines of minimal manipulation for homologous use. The company adheres to AATB and FDA guidelines. Learn more at www.regenativelabs.com

About Dr. Albert Lai
A southern Californian native, Dr. Lai completed his medical training at Tufts University, where he subsequently served as a clinical instructor. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He also holds board certifications in Pain Medicine and Independent Medical Examiners. Dr. Lai has served as the managing partner at the offices of Desert Pain & Rehabilitation Associates based in Rancho Mirage for the past 18 years and as medical director of Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine in Placentia, California. Learn more at the Centers of Rehabilitation website: Pain Clinic Orange County | Professional Pain Management in OC (ocpain.net)

About Dr. Conrad Tamea
Dr. Tamea is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon, who now focuses solely on regenerative medicine. He received his education from the College of William and Mary, Drexel University, Hahnemann Medical University, and the University of Kansas Orthopedic Residency Program. Dr. Tamea utilizes his knowledge and experience from over three decades as a surgeon and over a decade of regenerative medicine and combines this knowledge with state-of-the-art equipment at his clinic at Orthopedic Associates of Tampa Bay.

SOURCE Regenative Labs