Stem cell regenerative therapy uses the ability of these cells to transform into specialized cells depending on the body’s needs. These cells can be viewed as a raw material, which changes depending on the body’s needs (Jones et al., 2019). Since daughter cells can differentiate to perform a specific function, stem cell regenerative therapy allows repairing the damaged tissue, for example, if a person has a wound. This is a promising discovery in medicine that can help understand how the human body heals. However, more research into stem cells is necessary.
Spinal stenosis is a condition where a person’s spine narrows, causing additional pressure and pain. The best practice for treating spinal stenosis at this moment is non-fusion methods, and for example, Interspinous Process Decompression shows great results. In a comprehensive study involving 1254 patients with this condition, although some patients required reoperation, and 60% of them did not experience any complications (Zhang et al., 2021). This method is well-studied and has a proven track record of improving spinal stenosis, unlike stem cells.
Stem cell research and practical application are limited, which makes it a high-risk procedure. For example, there is proof that these therapies are helpful in wound healing (Jones et al., 2019). As for the treatment of spinal cord injuries and lower back pain, Urits et al. (2019) state that preliminary studies and first clinical trials have shown that stem cells may be beneficial for treating spinal cord injuries. This evidence suggests that stem cells can potentially reverse the degeneration of bone and tissue. However, this is an alternative method and not a first choice recommendation because of limited research and the complexity of the procedure. Therefore, the operation is recommended because there are more chances of success with this option, based on the evidence that the medical community currently has.
References
Jones, R., Foster, D., Hu, M., & Longaker, M. (2019). Wound healing and fibrosis: current stem cell therapies. Transfusion, 59(S1), 884-892. Web.
Urits, I., Capuco, A., Sharma, M., Kaye, A., Viswanath, O., Cornett, E., & Orhurhu, V. (2019). Stem cell therapies for treatment of discogenic low back pain: a vomprehensive review. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 23(9), 1-10. Web.
Zhang, Y., Lu, D., Ji, W., He, F., Chen, A., Yang, H., & Zhu, X. (2021). Which is the most effective treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis: Decompression, fusion, or interspinous process device? A Bayesian network meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 26, 45-53. Web.