Meniscus Tears

A regenerative path alongside orthopedics & rehab

Meniscus injuries come in two main flavors: acute tears from a twist or pivot, and degenerative splits that appear over time with loading and early osteoarthritic change. Standard care—activity modification, structured physiotherapy, bracing when helpful, biologic injections, and surgical repair or partial meniscectomy in selected tears—remains essential. Stem-cell–based therapy is being developed as an adjunct to calm synovial inflammation, support fibrocartilage repair where blood supply allows, protect nearby cartilage, and improve the micro-environment of the meniscus–cartilage–subchondral bone unit so rehab gains “stick” and post-activity flares settle faster. Our lead platform is human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) for their potent, consistent paracrine (cell-to-cell signaling) profile.

How UC-MSCs may help a torn meniscus

UC-MSCs don’t have to become new meniscus cells to matter—they act as cellular coordinators. Their secreted signals (growth factors, cytokines, extracellular vesicles) work on multiple bottlenecks at once:

• Synovial calming: dialing down inflammatory cascades inside the joint that drive swelling, pain, and cartilage wear after a tear or partial meniscectomy.
• Matrix support: nudging meniscal cells toward a healthier collagen–proteoglycan balance and reducing catabolic enzymes that weaken fibrocartilage, particularly helpful in the more vascular red-red/red-white zones that can heal.
• Chondroprotection: protecting adjacent articular cartilage from the overload that follows a meniscal injury, and supporting the subchondral bone’s micro-circulation so shock absorption improves.
• Pain and neuromuscular carryover: by quieting inflammation and improving tissue oxygenation, movement patterns normalize, letting strength and proprioception training take hold.

In simple terms: UC-MSCs help create a friendlier biology so repaired tissue integrates better, trimmed menisci function more comfortably, and degenerative tears irritate the joint less.

What the clinical trend suggests

Across knee programs that include meniscal pathology, the pattern is consistent: reassuring tolerability in studied settings and gradual, functional improvements when regenerative signals are layered onto smart rehab and load management. People report less swelling after activity, fewer “catching” sensations, improved confidence in pivots and stair work, and better workout recovery. Objective measures (KOOS/IKDC/Lysholm, strength and hop tests, step-down quality) tend to move in the same direction over successive visits. Because the mechanism is biologic remodeling—not a quick mechanical fix—benefits show up as trend lines over weeks to months.

Where improvements tend to show up

Patients usually notice the practical wins first:

• Symptoms: less joint effusion, reduced tenderness along the joint line, fewer clicks that hurt, and less next-day stiffness.
• Function: deeper, cleaner squats; steadier single-leg stance; easier step-downs and stairs; more confident cutting and deceleration.
• Capacity: longer walking or training blocks before payback; faster return to baseline after a big day.

Clinicians pair this with numbers and tests: KOOS/IKDC/Lysholm, pain VAS, quad/hamstring strength symmetry, hop and Y-balance performance, and—when indicated—follow-up MRI to document calmer synovitis or improved tissue signal.

Why umbilical-cord sources are a strong fit

UC-MSCs expand efficiently and maintain a youthful, pro-repair secretome with anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and pro-angiogenic cues—well matched to the mixed biology of meniscal injury (synovitis, matrix wear, subchondral stress). Bone-marrow (BM-MSC) and adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSC) share many core behaviors and are also used; the common thread is paracrine repair, not cell replacement. For flexible scheduling (around training cycles or travel), cell-free derivatives—MSC extracellular vesicles/exosomes—can deliver similar signals without whole cells.

How this complements surgical decisions

Regenerative signals can support meniscal repair by calming the joint and encouraging matrix maturation during rehab. After partial meniscectomy, they help quiet synovitis and protect adjacent cartilage as the knee adapts to altered load sharing. In degenerative tears where surgery isn’t chosen, the goal is to reduce irritation, strengthen load distribution, and keep activity sustainable. Complex tears that destabilize the knee (e.g., root or large radial tears) may still need surgical repair; regenerative care then acts as a biological amplifier for recovery.

Beyond MSCs: add-ons that play well together

• Exosomes/secretome: practical for maintenance phases or between competition blocks.
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma): can be paired for focal matrix support, especially around repair sites or irritated tendons (patellar, hamstring) that co-travel with meniscal issues.
• Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplement): short-term lubrication while deeper biologic changes take hold.
• Load strategy: footwear/orthotics when needed, periodized training, and surface/volume tweaks to protect the joint during build-ups.

How we integrate this at Vega Stem Cell

For most orthopedic conditions, we recommend combining two regenerative approaches:

• Intravenous (IV) Stem Cell Infusion – delivered according to body weight or as a double-dose protocol to promote systemic recovery, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue regeneration.
• Local Stem Cell Injection – applied directly to the injured joint, tendon, or ligament to relieve pain, stimulate repair, and accelerate recovery at the affected site.

We coordinate closely with your surgeon and physiotherapist to align cellular therapy with phase-based rehabilitation, progressing from range and swelling control → motor control and strength symmetry → plyometric and directional movement → return-to-sport testing.

Follow-ups are conducted every few weeks to monitor pain, swelling, strength symmetry, hop or Y-balance performance, and confidence in real-world tasks, ensuring the treatment adapts to your progress and supports lasting functional recovery.

Putting it all together

Meniscus problems persist when synovial inflammation, matrix breakdown, and subchondral stress outpace the knee’s repair signals. UC-MSC–centered therapy aims to tilt that biology back—quieter joint lining, stronger matrix behavior, and steadier micro-circulation—so movement feels cleaner, swelling settles faster, and training or daily life becomes more predictable. Woven into disciplined orthopedics and high-quality rehab, success is measured where it matters most: less pain and swelling, better stability and confidence, stronger test scores, and a return to the activities you care about.