Health Services
Orthobiologic Medicine
Orthobiologics is an innovative new approach designed to treat some orthopedic injury and disease conditions. Orthobiologic treatments can promote healing, decrease inflammation, and repair damaged tissues often without the invasiveness of surgical intervention. Some naturally occurring cells in the body have the ability to differentiate and promote the repair and regeneration of a variety of damaged tissues. With Orthobiologic therapy, we use these cells to create a concentrated treatment that frequently is administered with a simple injection under ultrasound guidance.
Your Team
Dr. Marr, MD, FACSM, CAQSM
Sports Medicine + Orthobiologic Medicine
Dr. Marr's primary focus is the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems with non-surgical options. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Marr uses an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment that gives patients the time and individualized approach to address the root issues at play and meet their activity goals.
The Leading Edge of Orthobiologic Therapies
If you have an injury that hasn’t responded to traditional methods of orthopedic treatment, then you may want to consider orthobiologic therapy. Orthobiologics are natural, tissue-derived compounds that have the potential to help your body heal more quickly and restore function. They’re used alongside other treatments, like physical therapy and pain management techniques, as an alternative solution to surgery for arthritis, or injured muscles, tendons and ligaments.
What Are Orthobiologics?
Orthobiologics are tissue-derived compounds that are naturally found in your body. They’re made of complex carbohydrates, proteins, cells and glycoproteins. When used in higher concentrations and targeted to a specific area, they can help reduce inflammation and improve healing of broken bones or injured muscles, tendons and ligaments. The main goal of using orthobiologics is to reduce pain and improve your quality of life.
Orthobiologic Services
Offerings + Patient Resources
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) contains a high concentration of platelets and a variable amount of white blood cells (depending on your specific needs). PRP injections enhance the body’s natural ability to heal, can reduce inflammation in tendons and arthritic joints, and accelerate the repair of injured tendons and ligaments. A PRP injection is generally a quick outpatient procedure. During this treatment, PRP is taken from your own blood and injected directly into the damaged tissue under ultrasound guidance. This releases growth factors that stimulate and increase the number of reparative cells your body produces.
Alpha-2 Macroglobulin (A2M) Injections
Alpha 2 macroglobulin is a major type of protein found in plasma, the colorless part of blood. It's believed that A2M helps minimize pain in the knee by deactivating certain enzymes that can break down cartilage cells. When cells in cartilage break down in the knee, the bones that connect to form the knee joint experience increased friction during movement, which causes tissues to become inflamed and nerves to become irritated.
Conditions
Managed
with PRP Therapy
Chronic tendon injuries are the most common conditions PRP has been use for at this point. Such conditions may include Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendon inflammation ("jumper's knee"), and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), a common overuse injury. Additional conditions treated with PRP therapy may include:
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Acute muscle and ligament injuries
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Chronic tendon problems
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Knee, shoulder, and hip arthritis
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Fractures (limited use)
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Rotator cuff injuries
