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At Bangor Plastic and Hand Surgery, we offer orthobiologic treatment options for selected patients with arthritis, tendon pain, and chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow.

These minimally invasive procedures utilize components derived from your own adipose tissue and blood to help support the body's natural healing response and improve the tissue environment surrounding painful joints and tendons.

Our goal is to help selected patients reduce pain, improve function, and potentially delay surgery.

OUR APPROACH

Adipose-Derived Orthobiologic Therapy

Our primary orthobiologic procedure involves harvesting a small amount of your own adipose tissue (fat), processing it into a biologically active graft, and precisely placing it into the affected area.

Adipose tissue contains biologic signaling cells and vascular-supporting components that may help improve tissue quality, blood supply, and local oxygenation.

For decades, adipose grafting has been used in reconstructive surgery to improve tissue quality in areas affected by radiation injury, chronic inflammation, scarring, and poor vascularity. Research has shown that transferred adipose tissue promotes neovascularization - the formation of new blood vessels - leading to improved blood flow, oxygen delivery, and tissue quality. This has been particularly obvious through dramatic improvements seen in radiated breast tissue and pain in the base of the thumb from arthritis after fat grafting is done.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may also be utilized in selected patients in conjunction with fat grafting.

PRP is prepared from your own blood and contains concentrated platelets and growth factors that may help support the healing environment and reduce inflammatory signaling.

CONDITIONS WE COMMONLY TREAT

Arthritis Conditions

  • Thumb CMC arthritis
  • MCP, PIP, and DIP joint arthritis
  • Wrist arthritis
Tendon & Soft Tissue Conditions
  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer's elbow
  • Chronic tendon irritation
  • Inflammatory soft tissue pain
Additional Investigational Applications:
  • Painful scar tissue
  • Chronic wounds
  • Select neuropathic conditions
  • Hair Loss

WHO MAY BENEFIT

Orthobiologic therapies remain investigational for most orthopedic conditions and are not FDA-approved to regenerate cartilage or cure arthritis.

Current evidence suggests that selected patients may experience improvement in pain and function, though results vary and ongoing research continues to evolve.

Most orthobiologic procedures are elective and self-pay, although some limited thumb CMC-related procedures may qualify for insurance coverage.