Since 1949, Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group—a division of Florida Medical Clinic—has been providing patients from across the Tampa Bay region with progressive, patient-centered care. We understand that the field of orthopaedic medicine is constantly changing, and we keep ourselves updated on the latest technologies and techniques so that we can provide our patients with the best possible care. Below are two of the innovations that we use at our Tampa, Florida, clinic.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

The orthopaedic medicine specialists at Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group can use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to treat a wide range of conditions. But how do these injections work, exactly? Blood is made up of four different components: plasma, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Platelets (sometimes referred to as “thrombocytes”) help blood clot after an injury, thereby promoting healing. PRP injections contain concentrated platelets and are administered to help repair injuries and improve tissue function.

Studies show that PRP injections can be used to effectively treat orthopaedic conditions such as:

• Ligament tears
• Muscle strains
• Osteoarthritis
• Sprains
• Tennis elbow

If we recommend that you undergo PRP injections, we’ll collect a sample of your blood, then process it in a centrifuge. As the sample spins, the platelets contained within will separate from the other blood components. Then, we’ll inject the concentrated platelets into the area where you’re injured. Because the platelets are sourced from your own blood, you won’t need to worry about allergies or cross-infection.

Stem Cell Therapy

Patients can also turn to Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group for stem cell therapy. Stem cells have revolutionized the orthopaedic medicine field because not only do they self-renew, but they can also develop into other types of cells, including the ones that make up bone, cartilage, and muscle. This enables them to regenerate tissue and accelerate the healing process.

Stem cells can be used to treat numerous conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including:

• Bursitis
• Fractures
• Labral tears
• Ligament tears
• Meniscus tears
• Osteoarthritis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Tendonitis

There has historically been a great deal of controversy surrounding stem cell therapy because some people believed that it was morally wrong to collect stem cells from embryos. But at Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group, we never use embryonic stem cells. Instead, we use mesenchymal stem cells (sometimes referred to as “autologous stem cells”), which are taken from the patient’s own body. We’ll collect a sample of your bone marrow, spin it in a centrifuge to separate the stem cells from the platelets and white blood cells, then inject the concentrated stem cells into the injured tissue. Using your own stem cells also reduces the risk of disease transmission, infection, and tissue rejection.

Learn More About Our Approach to Orthopaedic Medicine

If you’d like to know more about Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group and the state-of-the-art treatments we offer for patients in the Tampa Bay area, contact us today. We’ll gladly provide you with additional information, answer your questions, and arrange a time for you to visit our office, which you’ll find conveniently located at 602 South Howard Avenue in Tampa, FL.

Are you living with shoulder pain and stiffness? If so, you’re not alone. Some researchers estimate that shoulder pain affects 18% to 26% of adults at any given time. This is likely due to the shoulder’s wide range of motion—because the shoulder joint is so flexible, it’s relatively unstable and thus more prone to injury. Below, we discuss some of the most common shoulder injuries and explain what treatment typically involves.

Bursitis

Like other joints within the body, the shoulder contains bursae, which are small, fluid-filled sacs that help cushion the surrounding bones, muscles, and tendons. When the bursae become inflamed—often due to repetitive motions or excess pressure—it’s known as bursitis, and it can lead to pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling. This shoulder injury often resolves on its own, but you can encourage healing by resting the shoulder and applying an ice pack or a warm compress. In some cases, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or surgery may be necessary.

Dislocated Shoulders

When extreme twisting or a strong impact causes the humerus (upper arm bone) to pop out of the shoulder socket, it can produce a visible deformity, intense pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, swelling, and bruising and make it impossible to move the joint. Shoulder dislocation treatment typically requires maneuvering the bones back into place (closed reduction), so it’s important to promptly consult with an experienced medical provider (in the meantime, you should immobilize the shoulder using a sling or splint and apply an ice pack). In some cases, surgery is necessary to treat this shoulder injury. Notably, once a shoulder dislocates, it’s more likely to pop out of place again in the future, leading to chronic shoulder instability.

Frozen Shoulder

When the shoulder is kept still for an extended period of time—for example, following surgery—it can cause the surrounding tissue to thicken and tighten, making it difficult to move the joint. Frozen shoulder can usually be treated conservatively by taking pain medication, attending physical therapy, or undergoing corticosteroid injections. However, surgery is sometimes needed to loosen the surrounding tissue.

Rotator Cuff Tears

The shoulder joint is surrounded by the rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that help keep the humerus within the shoulder socket. Rotator cuff tears often result from age-related degeneration, but in some cases, these shoulder injuries can be caused by sudden trauma (e.g., falling on an outstretched arm). When the rotator cuff partially or completely tears, it can make it difficult to raise the affected arm, and it can also produce pain, weakness, and a clicking, crackling, or popping sensation. While conservative treatments like pain medication, arm slings, and physical therapy are sometimes effective in relieving symptoms, surgery is often necessary to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Tampa Bay’s Leading Shoulder Injury Specialists

If you’ve sustained one of the shoulder injuries listed above—or any other musculoskeletal injury—you can get the treatment you need at Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group, a division of Florida Medical Clinic. We’ve been serving patients at our Tampa, Florida, office since 1949, making us the city’s oldest orthopaedic center and sports injury clinic, and we remain dedicated to administering progressive, patient-centered care. Our team includes Dr. Daniel Murphy (a board-certified orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon) and Dr. Arnold Ramirez (a board-certified sports medicine doctor), and we have experience treating a wide range of shoulder injuries.

Contact Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group today to schedule an appointment with one of our shoulder injury experts. We welcome patients of all ages, and our office is conveniently located at 602 South Howard Avenue in Tampa, FL.