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Current Review of Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Spine-Related Pain

  • Neuropathic Pain (A Abd-Elsayed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Persistent spinal pain syndromes are pervasive and lead to functional impairment, increased healthcare utilization, potential disability, and high societal costs. Spinal (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac joint) pain includes mechanical, degenerative, inflammatory, oncologic, and infectious etiologies. Regenerative medicine is a novel biotechnology targeting mechanical, degenerative, and inflammatory conditions believed to cause pain. Preparations including platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells (adipose tissue and bone marrow aspirate concentrates), and growth factors are derived from an autologous donor. The goal of intervention through guided injection of the regenerative media is to reduce inflammation and reverse the degenerative cascade in hopes of restoring normal cellular composition (physiologic homeostasis) and anatomical function to improve pain and function. The authors review limited research supporting the use of platelet-rich plasma injections for facet joint arthropathy and sacroiliac joint pain compared to traditional steroid treatments, as well as the use of platelet rich plasma or mesenchymal stem cells for lumbar discogenic and radicular pain.

Recent Findings

Current evidence to support regenerative medicine for spine-related pain is limited. Although several studies demonstrated a reduction in pain, many of these studies had a small number of participants and were case series or prospective trials.

Summary

Regenerative medicine treatments lack evidence for the treatment of spine-related pain. Large randomized controlled trials are needed with consistent study protocols to make further recommendations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Jillian Maloney, N. Strand, C. Wie, S. Pew, A. Dawodu, T. Dunn, J. Freeman & S. Covington

  2. Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    B. Johnson & A. Eells

  3. Innovative Pain and Wellness, LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    O. Viswanath

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  1. Jillian Maloney
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  3. C. Wie
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Contributions

JM, BJ, AE, AD, TD, SC, NS wrote the main manuscript text. SP, JF contributed to the abstract and introduction. CW and OV reviewed the manuscript and made appropriate edits. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jillian Maloney.

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Maloney, J., Strand, N., Wie, C. et al. Current Review of Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Spine-Related Pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01194-3

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