Orthokine® therapy - treatment of inflammation in joints and soft tissues

Chronic joint pain, recurring inflammation, tendon overload or complaints after an injury may need treatment aimed not only at the symptom but also at the inflammatory process. At OpenMed Warsaw and Płock patients can have an orthopaedic consultation and qualification for Orthokine® therapy - a method that uses autologous conditioned serum prepared from the patient's own blood.

Orthokine® belongs to the biological injection therapies used in treating selected musculoskeletal conditions. Its aim is a local anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect within the joint, tendon or other structure affected by the disease process.

What is Orthokine® therapy?

Orthokine® is a therapy that uses autologous conditioned serum - a preparation made from the patient's own blood. During processing, a serum is obtained containing signalling proteins and anti-inflammatory factors that may help limit the inflammatory reaction at the site of administration.

Unlike classic platelet-rich plasma PRP, Orthokine® therapy does not focus solely on platelets and growth factors. What sets it apart is the conditioning of the serum and its focus on modulating the inflammation that is often responsible for pain, stiffness and reduced mobility.

How does Orthokine® work?

In many orthopaedic conditions the problem is not only mechanical damage but also persistent inflammation. This applies to osteoarthritis, tendon overload, post-traumatic changes and chronic pain linked to soft tissues, among others.

Orthokine® therapy involves administering the prepared serum directly into the affected area. This makes the treatment local and focused on the structure that needs it. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may plan a series of injections and combine the therapy with rehabilitation or other conservative treatment methods.

Indications for Orthokine® therapy

The doctor decides whether to use Orthokine® after a consultation and an assessment of the patient's condition. The therapy may be considered for:

joint pain of an inflammatory or degenerative nature,
osteoarthritis,
recurring inflammation in the musculoskeletal system,
overload-related complaints,
tendon and muscle injuries,
pain after physical activity,
reduced joint mobility,
sports overload,
complaints persisting despite conservative treatment,
the need to support recovery after selected injuries or procedures.

Orthokine® can be used in various areas of the musculoskeletal system, but the specific site, number of injections and intervals between them are determined individually.

Orthokine® and chronic inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body, but when it lasts too long it can intensify pain and hinder healing. In orthopaedics a chronic inflammatory process often accompanies degenerative changes, sports overload and soft tissue micro-injuries.

That is why Orthokine® therapy is particularly interesting in patients where inflammatory symptoms dominate: pain after loading, stiffness, tenderness, a feeling of pressure or worsening function despite rest and standard treatment. The aim of the therapy is to reduce the activity of the inflammatory process and create better conditions for functional improvement.

What does qualification for Orthokine® therapy look like at OpenMed?

Qualification starts with an orthopaedic consultation. The doctor reviews the symptoms, performs a clinical examination and assesses earlier medical records. Depending on the problem, a musculoskeletal ultrasound, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or other tests may be needed.

During the visit the doctor establishes:

whether the complaints are inflammatory, overload-related, degenerative or post-traumatic,
which structure is the source of the pain,
whether Orthokine® therapy will be appropriate,
whether accompanying treatment is necessary,
how many injections may be needed,
what recommendations apply after the injection.

This approach avoids choosing a therapy at random and matches the treatment method to the real cause of the pain.

How does Orthokine® therapy work in practice?

The therapy is performed on an outpatient basis. The exact course may differ depending on the indication and the doctor's plan, but it usually covers several stages.

1. Blood collection

Peripheral blood is drawn from the patient. The material comes from the patient's own body, which makes the therapy autologous.

2. Preparation of the conditioned serum

The collected blood is processed in a dedicated system that allows the serum to be prepared for therapeutic injections. The resulting material is intended exclusively for that patient.

3. The injection plan

Orthokine® is most often used as a course of injections. The doctor determines the number of injections, the intervals between them and the site of administration. The treatment plan depends on the diagnosis, the severity of the symptoms and the patient's response.

4. Injection into the treated area

The preparation is administered at the site indicated by the doctor - for example into a joint or into the area of soft tissues. In selected cases the injection may be performed under ultrasound guidance.

5. Follow-up and further treatment

After the therapy the patient receives recommendations on activity, rehabilitation and follow-up. In chronic conditions it is important to monitor the effects and limit the factors that led to the overload.

Orthokine® or PRP - how do these therapies differ?

Orthokine® and PRP are both autologous therapies, as they use material derived from the patient's blood. They are not the same thing, however.

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is based mainly on a concentration of platelets and growth factors. It is often used in tendon and ligament injuries, overload and selected joint changes.

Orthokine® uses conditioned serum and is more strongly associated with an anti-inflammatory effect and the modulation of inflammatory processes. It may therefore be considered where the problem is chronic inflammation, joint pain or soft tissue complaints persisting despite earlier treatment.

The choice between PRP, Orthokine®, nStride®, hyaluronic acid or another injection should always follow from the diagnosis and a consultation with a specialist, not from the name of the preparation.

Why discuss Orthokine® therapy at OpenMed?

At OpenMed, musculoskeletal injection treatment is part of a wider orthopaedic work-up. The doctor does not choose the therapy on the basis of the pain symptom alone, but assesses its source, the type of overload and the state of the tissues.

Depending on the diagnosis, it is possible to plan:

Orthokine® therapy,
PRP,
nStride®,
hyaluronic acid,
an ultrasound-guided injection,
rehabilitation,
imaging diagnostics,
a surgical consultation or further orthopaedic treatment.

Want to find out whether Orthokine® is the right therapy for you?

Book an orthopaedic consultation at OpenMed Warsaw or Płock. The doctor will assess the cause of the pain, the inflammation and the injection treatment options.

FAQ - questions about Orthokine® therapy

: No. Orthokine® and PRP are both autologous therapies, but they differ in how they are prepared and in their mechanism of action. PRP is based on platelet-rich plasma, Orthokine® on conditioned serum.
: Orthokine® may be considered in treating selected joint complaints, inflammation, overload-related changes, soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal pain. The doctor decides on the indications.
: The number of injections depends on the diagnosis and the doctor's decision. Orthokine® is often planned as a course of injections rather than a single procedure.
: The preparation is made from the patient's own blood, which limits the risk of an allergic reaction. As with any injection, temporary pain, tenderness or swelling may occur at the site of administration.
: No. The therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, at the medical facility.
: Yes. In many cases rehabilitation is an important part of treatment and helps maintain the effects of the therapy by improving strength, range of motion and load control.
: nStride® is most often associated with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Orthokine® has a wider application profile in treating inflammation of joints and soft tissues. The orthopaedist should decide on the choice of therapy after an examination.