Posted on 12/15/2009 11:40:57 PM PST by Nachum
A man who faced amputation after he broke a leg while rock climbing spoke today of a revolutionary new stem cell technique which fused it back together again.
Andrew Kent's right leg broke in five places when a large boulder fell on him as he climbed with his son in the Langdale Pikes in the Lake District in April.
He was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle where he underwent three operations to pin the bones back together.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Even if the method worked I dont think I could use it if it came from the death of an unborn.
I believe the article said that it came from his own bone marrow.
They used his own stem cells from his bone marrow. No babies had to die for this breakthrough procedure.
The paste it formed was then smeared into the fractures before his leg was placed in a metal cage to gently squeeze the bones back together.
Embryonic isn’t panning out...same with the Multiple Sclerosis case reported today. Go figure.
All that, and only “a few hundred pounds”, to boot!
I’ve seen & helped care for “caged” legs, when I worked ortho some 30 years ago, and they were always very ‘iffy’.
Many really never turned out well, even if sequential stretching was used to return the fractured leg to somewhat the same length as prior to the fracture...a long and unpleasant process for the patient.
Amazing what is being done with adult stem cells.
All they have gotten out of embryonic stem cells is cancer. Is that irony or karma? ;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.