Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation, was recently awarded a $549,000 grant by the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research.
Along with co-investigators Gerard Malanga, MD, of the New Jersey Regenerative Institute and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, Derfner Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Kessler Foundation, they will conduct a randomized, controlled, parallel group trial of the effectiveness of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection, described as a new minimally invasive intervention for disabling shoulder pain in wheelchair users with chronic spinal cord injury and overuse injuries.
In April 2019, the Commission announced $3.4 million in grants to successful applicants from qualified research organizations in New Jersey. This grant is one of three individual research grants awarded to the Foundation, totaling $1.74 million, according to a media release from Kessler Foundation.
For the study, 28 participants will be randomly assigned to receive an ultrasound-guided injection into the shoulder joint that contains either: 1) autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue; or 2) corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide). All participants will then undergo a standardized home exercise program and periodic follow-up for 6 months after the injection, including physical examination and imaging studies.
Adipose tissue is a readily accessed source of mechanical, bioactive and bioavailable elements. The adipose used for the injection is obtained using the Lipogems system. Via procedures performed by Dr Malanga, a person’s own fat is harvested and processed by the Lipogems system to yield autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue that is then injected into the shoulder joint under ultrasound guidance.
The new intervention may expand treatment options for wheelchair users with intractable shoulder pain and limited range of motion.
The study is based on positive findings from a Kessler pilot study funded by the Derfner Foundation, per the release.
“The majority of the participants in our pilot study have reported significantly less pain and greater range of motion following a single injection,” Dyson-Hudson reports, “and this relief from pain and improved function was maintained even at the 1-year follow-up visit.”
Corticosteroid injections offer relief from pain; however, relief from pain often only lasts a few months and repeated injections may cause damage to joint tissues.
“With fat obtained using Lipogems, the injected fat tissue cushions damaged joint tissues and fills structural defects,” Malanga says, “and it delivers numerous cell types and growth factors that may foster tendon repair and regeneration.
“This new funding is an important step in our exploration of potential applications for regenerative approaches to disabling conditions, such as the rotator cuff injuries that are so prevalent among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury,” he adds.
“The Commission clearly recognizes the importance of regenerative medicine to advances in rehabilitative care,” Jay Lieberman, trustee of the Derfner Foundation, comments in the releasde.
“This grant will accelerate the progress being made by the Kessler team toward finding solutions that reduce pain and disability among individuals with spinal cord injury.”
[Source(s): Kessler Foundation, News-Medical Life Sciences]
Hi Tom,
I’m sorry but I can’t speak to the previous research. If’ you’d like to know how they compare your best bet would be to contact Kessler directly. I’m happy to hear that you, yourself, had a good treatment outcome.
Years ago Trevor did a different shoulder pain study which I was part of and it was divided into 2 different groups – 1 was massage therapy and the other(which I was part of) was Acupuncture(10 total treatment) – was that study found to be not effective?? because I had great results which really helped me – just wondering = thanks – Tom