Condition overview · Orthopedics
Each knee has two menisci, rubbery C-shaped pads of cartilage that cushion the joint between the thigh bone and the shin bone. Here is how we approach meniscus tears and which autologous therapies (made from your own blood or bone marrow) may apply. Each card below links to that therapy's full page. We see patients from Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and across the United States.
Therapies for this condition
Each one uses your own biologic material. The right choice depends on your imaging, prior treatments, and goals. Dr. Glowney walks through this with you at your consultation.
01 · Cellular therapy
Contains stem cells (MSCs) · same-day
We draw a small amount of bone marrow from the back of your hip bone (iliac crest) under local anesthetic, concentrate it in our on-site lab, and inject it into the target tissue using ultrasound or live X-ray (fluoroscopy) guidance.
02 · Platelet-rich plasma
Blood-derived · in-office
Concentrated platelets and growth factors from your own blood, prepared in our lab and delivered into the target tissue under ultrasound guidance.
Talking it through
These are the situations where biologic therapy most often comes up for this condition. Whether it fits you is something we work out together at your consultation. If another option makes more sense, we'll tell you.
No stem cell or cellular therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of these conditions. The approaches described on this page are experimental, grounded in evolving translational and early clinical research, and offered only following comprehensive evaluation and informed consent.
References to "stem cells" on this page reflect cellular populations contained within autologous bone marrow–derived biologic material, not manufactured or expanded stem cell products.
Autologous bone marrow–derived cellular therapy is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a drug or biologic for the treatment of specific musculoskeletal or systemic conditions. Clinical use is based on physician judgment, current scientific evidence, and individualized patient evaluation. No claims are made regarding guaranteed outcomes, tissue regeneration, or disease modification.
All biologic material is autologous (your own), patient-derived, and processed within the same procedural window. No expanded cell lines, donor cells, or research-only compounds.
Consistent with FDA guidance, we avoid unsupported claims regarding "stem cell" replacement or regeneration.
Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous biologic product prepared from a patient's own blood. PRP has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of specific diseases or musculoskeletal conditions. Clinical use is based on physician judgment, current scientific evidence, and individualized patient evaluation. No claims are made regarding guaranteed outcomes, tissue regeneration, or disease modification.
