Dr. John Ferrell of Regenerative Orthopedics and Sports Medicine hosts this week’s webinar which explores the phenomenon of what is knowns as the orthopedic treatment gap. Other important topics being discussed are how Covid-19 has affected surgery and orthopedics as well as the solution for patients who fall into the orthopedic treatment gap.
What is the Orthopedic Treatment gap?
The orthopedic treatment gap is a section of patients that are not eligible or simply feel they aren’t ready to undergo surgery. These patients are predominantly suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, such as knee osteoarthritis where studies show patients will stay in the treatment gap anywhere between 9-12 years. Dr. Ferrell outlines statistics that have been recorded, outlining the reasons people fall into this treatment gap. The following are the reasons why patients are most likely to stay in the treatment gap:
- 50% fear of dying
- 74% feel surgery is very risky
- 71% fear of complications
- 84% long term recovery
- 77% fear the pain/discomfort of surgery
- 77% are worried about needing help from others
Orthopedics and Covid-19
As many are aware, covid-19 has wreaked havoc in the medical industry. For a time, all surgeries had been postponed, and elective surgeries canceled until further notice. Clinics across the country had to shut their doors because they were unable to provide their primary service to patients. Dr. John Ferrell goes on to highlight the value of lipogems and how orthopedics can help patients in the treatment gap, as well as provide physicians with an alternative to surgery that is FDA and legally compliant in the current climate.
Closing the Orthopedic Treatment Gap With Lipogems
Dr. John Ferrell points to Lipogems (also known as micro-fragmented fat (MFAT)) as the therapy option that can help patients and clinics. The procedure is self-contained and does not require in-demand inventory like other procedures. ROSM has provided thousands of patients with MFAT therapy and has seen firsthand the benefits their patients have experienced. Everything from:
- Musculoskeletal pain relief
- Lose weight
- Increased quality of life
- Reduction in pain medication
Lipogems Injections don’t fall under the category of stem cell injections, so they are an FDA approved, accredited procedure with more than 70 peer-reviewed studies in reputable orthopedic journals. Some may be asking, why adipose tissue and not bone marrow? Well in our research, we have found that fat tissue supports healing and repair more effectively. In fact, it has been found that adipose has between 100x-500x more reparative cells than an equal size sample of bone marrow
Want to Learn More About Orthopedic Treatments?
The team of experts and Regenerative Orthopedics and Sports Medicine are looking to help patients who are stuck in the treatment gap regain their quality of life. If you feel you aren’t ready for surgery or are hesitant because of the risks and complications, orthopedic treatment could be the best option for you If you have any questions or would like to speak to a specialist to see if you are eligible for treatment, call or book an appointment online today!
John L Ferrell III, MD
Founder – ROSM
Dr. John Ferrell is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician with an added specialty certification in Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Sonography. He’s a form Team Physician for DC United and a native Washingtonian.Dr. Ferrell received his medical degree from The Pennsylvania State College of Medicine and interned at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center before spending four years in the Navy taking care of sailors and their families. Afterward, he completed his Family Medicine training at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Ferrell later went to complete his Sports Medicine Fellowship at Fairfax Family Practice. During his fellowship, Dr. Ferrell worked with the Washington Nationals’ and Redskins’ and served as a Team Physician for George Mason University while receiving intensive training in ultrasound diagnostics of musculoskeletal injuries and regenerative medicine injections
After years of training in martial arts, Dr. Ferrell knows first-hand what it’s like to recover an injury and can better empathize with his patients because of it. He believes in a holistic approach to the musculoskeletal system and that bodies need to be treated as one entity.
Dr. Ferrell enjoys non-surgical management of orthopedic problems, regenerative medicine including Bone marrow aspirate concentrate, Autologous micro-fragmented fat (MFAT), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF), concussion management, and exercise prescription for patients who want to increase their fitness.
