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Surgeons use nose cells to repair knee joints.


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Swiss surgeons harvested cells from nasal septum to repair damaged knee joints in 10 patients:

Swiss surgeons successfully used an experimental technique, which includes harvesting cells from the nasal septum, to repair damaged knee joints in patients. Two years later, these patients report improvements in pain and knee function, according to a study published Thursday in the journal The Lancet.

"The treatment is safe and feasible," said study co-author, Dr. Ivan Martin. 

Between 2004 and 2011, nearly two million Americans underwent a knee surgery due to cartilage problems. As the population ages, these surgeries will become increasingly common, experts say, however the existing techniques aren't optimal. This study indicates a promising new option could be within sight.

Reddit comments:

Surgeons are also harvesting stem cells from peoples olfactory nerves via the nose, and then injecting them into damaged vertebrae discs, two weeks later, perfect discs! I'm looking forward to this. Apparently the nose is the source of wonderful things!

...

[Nose is] the first choice location for stem cell harvest because of ease of access:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217619/

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