Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Conditions in Sapporo
PRP and SVF cell therapy as part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints. A doctor reviews your case and tests first
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?
With arthritis, a joint is inflamed. Signs to watch for: pain while resting and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. There are several causes — autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis), gout, infection or an injury from the past.
PRP and SVF can lessen inflammation and pain and back up the tissues in the joint, but systemic disease remains the rheumatologist's job. The procedure is skipped while there is an active joint infection or a severe flare, and the doctor first confirms the form of arthritis before choosing when to proceed.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
After going through your scans, the doctor selects the joint, the method and the number of injections — whether the joint is large or small
Elbow
Pain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Painful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Wear of the cartilage, problems with the meniscus, pain after walking and on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain when raising the arm, wear of the joint and surrounding tendons
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
We take a small sample of your adipose tissue and process it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. It is then combined with your own plasma and injected into the affected joint.
In cases of inflammatory arthritis it comes in once the acute flare has eased, for its effect on local inflammation and repair of tissue.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
A small amount of your blood is used to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and gives tissue repair better conditions.
Recommended in some cases of rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, it is one part of a broader treatment plan.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined and your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed by the doctor, who then decides if the procedure is suitable. Scans you already hold can be sent before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — about 30 ml — is collected through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen, and no stitches are required.
Processing in a centrifuge
The stromal vascular fraction is isolated after the sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers, then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined and your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed by the doctor, who then decides if the procedure is suitable. Scans you already hold can be sent before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — about 30 ml — is collected through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen, and no stitches are required.
Processing in a centrifuge
The stromal vascular fraction is isolated after the sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers, then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Follow-up visits
The plan is adjusted at follow-up visits, where the doctor sees how the joint responds: pain tends to ease over the first month, mobility to improve over about three months, and the full effect to develop over roughly six months.
Conditions we treat
An examination and a review of your scans come first; then a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: a cold, flu or fever, or skin inflammation over the joint to be treated
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
A same-day return home is usual, and normal daily activity comes back within a day or two; the puncture sites just need small dressings. Some extra aching in the first week is an expected reaction. Expect pain to ease over the first month, mobility and activity to improve over about three months, and the full effect to develop over around six months. The duration is different for everyone and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — a fixed result is something nobody can promise. Patients treated by a rheumatologist should not stop prescribed medication without discussing it with them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We try to keep the joint you have rather than replace it — with treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue
No crutches
Under local anaesthetic, through punctures instead of incisions, with no long rehabilitation afterwards
Second opinion
For a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
Support after the procedure
We remain in contact after the procedure and follow the result, well beyond the injection day
Arthritis treatment prices
The cost depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method, so the doctor names it after the consultation
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
With arthritis, the joints are affected by inflammation. Typical are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Possible causes: autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
PRP may help with local inflammation, pain and swelling in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis. The platelets release growth factors that affect tissue repair and the immune response. Your rheumatologist's treatment stays in place — PRP complements it and does not replace it.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
The aim with psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease that cannot currently be cured completely, is long remission — controlling inflammation and stopping joint deformity. One part of that plan can be regenerative injections.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
In SVF there are cells that can influence the local immune response and help damaged tissue in the joint to repair. The doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your type of arthritis, since research in this area is ongoing.
When is the treatment not suitable?
The doctor postpones the procedure or suggests another option in cases of active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders, as it is not done then.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Arthritis of the knee means inflammation — from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout — with redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness when touched. Osteoarthritis is the wearing of cartilage and typically brings a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Inflammation never stops stimulating the pain receptors of the joint, whether you move, rest or sleep at night. Treatment that targets inflammation, including PRP and SVF, can help ease this pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. In pregnancy, joint injections such as PRP and SVF are contraindicated, and any arthritis treatment is decided only together with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes — a doctor will look through your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results free of charge and tell you whether regenerative treatment could fit your type of arthritis.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Without treatment the condition can leave the joint permanently deformed, cause loss of function and osteoporosis, and damage internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys; timely treatment prevents these complications.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Arthritis treatment in Sapporo: what you should know
SVF contains cells that can modulate the local immune response and support the repair of damaged tissue. Research is ongoing, so the doctor discusses realistic expectations with every patient in Sapporo.
PRP may be given as a course of injections or together with SVF. The method and number of injections are chosen for each patient from Sapporo after the examination.
Joint inflammation that does not settle? Book a free consultation in Sapporo: the doctor reviews your case and suggests whether PRP or SVF makes sense now. The price is set individually.
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