Clinical Case of a Patient with Osteoarthritis and Meniscal Knee Tears

Written by Dr. María de los Ángeles López

Maria Margarita is an energetic woman who is very committed to her work. As the owner of a food truck chain in one of the busiest areas in the United States, she spends more than 16 hours a day on her feet, cooking and serving customers.

For years, she has continued with her routine despite chronic pain in both knees and persistent swelling in her right ankle, which had long gone untreated. Looking for alternatives to surgery, she decided to undergo a regenerative medicine approach, with the goal of improving her joint function and reducing the pain.

It all began 17 years ago, when she suffered a sprained right ankle that did not receive immediate attention.

Five years later, she began experiencing recurring swelling in her right knee and ankle, severe pain, and difficulty walking. She was evaluated by an orthopedist, who performed corrective surgery and fluid aspiration from the affected knee. Although the procedure temporarily relieved the pain, inflammation persisted, and over time, long hours of standing contributed to the development of osteoarthritis in the right knee and meniscal tears, confirmed by imaging studies.

Eventually, her left knee also began to swell, as a result of the postural changes the patient adopted to relieve the pain. When she consulted for regenerative
treatment, her joint condition was carefully evaluated. Imaging confirmed degeneration of the right knee due to osteoarthritis and meniscal tears, as well as edema in both joints.

It was decided to implement a combined protocol of autologous stem cells and modulating peptides, with the goal of regenerating damaged tissues and reducing proinflammatory cytokines responsible for inflammation and joint deterioration.

To date, the patient has completed two therapy sessions, spaced two months apart. Since the first session, she has reported significant improvement in mobility and pain reduction, reflecting the effectiveness of the regenerative treatment.

Currently, she reports that she no longer feels significant pain in her knees, maintaining only mild swelling in her right knee, while her right ankle has improved considerably, with moderate pain when walking and very mild pain at rest.

These initial results are consistent with published evidence on regenerative medicine applied to osteoarthritis and meniscal injuries, where the combination of stem cells and immune modulators has been shown to stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and improve joint function in patients with chronic degenerative pathologies.

Maria Margarita continues her clinical follow-up to evaluate the progress of her joints and the response of her immune system.

In conclusion, this case illustrates that, even in patients with a history of untreated injuries and intense occupational exposure, combined regenerative therapy can offer significant functional improvements and pain reduction, constituting a viable and less invasive alternative to conventional surgery.