What Are Growth Factors? What Role Do They Play in Tissue Repair?

In the world of orthopedic regenerative medicine, there are lots of treatments that are designed to power up your body’s own ability to heal itself. Many of these options involve the use of growth factors. What exactly are growth factors, and what role do they play in tissue repair? This blog post explains some fascinating basic information.

Understanding Growth Factors

Essentially, growth factors are special proteins that encourage cells to divide, grow, and heal. There are multiple types of growth factors, including:

• Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which helps to heal and renew the skin.
• Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), which helps to build collagen and elastin (key structural proteins).
• Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which works to rebuild blood vessels and other tissues.
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which plays a role in growing new blood vessels.

When tissues are damaged, your body naturally sends growth factors to the area to start the repair process. However, modern medicine has harnessed the power of growth factors to speed up the body’s ability to bounce back.

Growth Factor Treatments

Growth factors play a key role in several medical treatments. For example, beauty spas use them for skin treatments, and they are often used topically to help heal burns, ulcers, and other types of wounds.

They can also factor into non-surgical orthopedics. One very common use is through prolotherapy, which causes mild irritation at the site of damaged tissues to attract the body’s own growth factors.

Another outstanding example is the use of Whartons jelly growth factors. Whartons jelly is a special type of connective tissue found within the umbilical cord. After a C-section birth, mothers may choose to donate this jelly (the process is safe for both the baby and mom), so doctors are able to use it to help patients heal. It is very rich in growth factors and precursor cells. After it is processed, it can be made into a shelf-stable product.

Thereafter, it can be injected into the body to help damaged tissues heal. It has shown great potential as a means of treating many conditions, including osteoarthritis, knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, and more.

Research into the many uses of growth factors in orthopedic medicine is ongoing, but they show amazing promise! If a practice near you offers these treatments, ask if they might be able to relieve your symptoms.

Meet the Practice

At the Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics of Fort Lauderdale, our team is proud to offer Whartons jelly growth factor injections and other regenerative medicine options to help patients live with less pain and better health. If you have questions about these treatments or wish to schedule a consultation, contact our knowledgeable team at 954-563-2707.