Arthritis Treatment in Sarajevo with PRP and SVF
PRP together with SVF cell therapy supports arthritis care in the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints; first comes a doctor's review of your case
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?
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness that lasts longer than half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. The causes vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old injury.
These injections — PRP and SVF — can reduce pain and inflammation and support tissue inside the joint, but a systemic disease stays under a rheumatologist's care. During an active infection of the joint or a severe flare the procedure is not done: the doctor first confirms the arthritis type and chooses when to act.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Small joints as well as large — the doctor reviews your scans and then chooses the joint, the method and how many injections to give
Elbow
Worn joint surfaces and pain that follows overuse or sports strain
Hand and wrist joints
Stiff, painful small joints in the fingers and wrist
Knee
Cartilage wear, meniscus problems, pain on stairs and after walking
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain as you raise the arm, plus wear of the joint and the tendons around it
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
A small sample of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a mix of cells involved in tissue repair. Combined with your own plasma, it is injected into the affected joint.
When the acute flare has died down, it can be used in inflammatory arthritis to act on local inflammation and help tissue repair.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is taken from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves the conditions for tissue repair.
For rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis it may be suggested as one component of the overall plan of treatment.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
If you already have scans, send them before the visit: the doctor examines the joint, reviews your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure suits you.
Blood sample for PRP
We take a small amount of blood from a vein; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it later.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, under local anaesthetic; the puncture needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The affected joint receives the prepared material by direct injection under ultrasound guidance, for precise placement.
Follow-up
Without crutches and without a hospital stay: after the procedure the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's response.
Consultation and scan review
If you already have scans, send them before the visit: the doctor examines the joint, reviews your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure suits you.
Blood sample for PRP
We take a small amount of blood from a vein; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it later.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, under local anaesthetic; the puncture needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The affected joint receives the prepared material by direct injection under ultrasound guidance, for precise placement.
Follow-up
Without crutches and without a hospital stay: after the procedure the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
Follow-up visits are there so the doctor can see the joint's response and adjust the plan. Expect pain to ease over the first month, mobility to improve over about three months and the full effect to develop over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of your scans
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 or flu, a fever, or inflamed skin over the joint that is 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
Most people are home the same day and back to their usual routine within a day or two, the puncture sites covered with small dressings. The joint may ache a little more during the first week, as expected. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect builds over around six months. How long it holds varies individually with the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, so no fixed result can be promised. If a rheumatologist treats you, do not drop your prescribed medication without consulting them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Treatment without surgery: our work is about keeping your own joint, not replacing it
Your own tissue
Only your own blood and adipose tissue are used — no donor or synthetic material
No crutches
Under local anaesthetic, through punctures instead of incisions, with no long rehabilitation afterwards
Second opinion
Share your X-rays, MRI or reports and get a doctor's independent assessment at no cost
Support after the procedure
We follow your result and stay in touch after the procedure, not just on injection day
Arthritis treatment prices
You learn the cost from the doctor after the consultation, as it depends on the joint, the method and the type of arthritis
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?
Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease. You may have pain at night or at rest, morning stiffness for longer than 30 minutes, swelling, and redness and warmth over the joint. The causes include infections, gout, psoriasis and autoimmune conditions, rheumatoid arthritis among them.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
It does not replace the treatment prescribed by your rheumatologist, but PRP can complement it: in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis it may help reduce local inflammation, pain and swelling, as platelet growth factors influence the immune response and tissue repair.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
A complete cure for psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease, is not currently possible. What we aim for is long remission — control of inflammation and prevention of joint deformity — and regenerative injections can form one part of that plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
SVF includes cells that can modulate the immune response at the site and support the repair of damaged joint tissue. Since research in this field is still ongoing, the doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your form of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done during an active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders. In these cases the doctor postpones the procedure or suggests another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Knee arthritis is inflammation caused by an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout: redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness to touch. Osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage and usually shows as a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Inflammation stimulates the joint's pain receptors non-stop: on movement, at rest, at night. Reducing the inflammation with treatment such as PRP and SVF can ease this pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Joint injections, among them PRP and SVF, are contraindicated in pregnancy. Arthritis care during pregnancy is decided only together with an obstetrician and a rheumatologist.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes — send us your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results. A doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you whether your type of arthritis could suit regenerative treatment.
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 Sarajevo: what you should know
Arthritis treatment in Sarajevo uses your own tissue: platelet-rich plasma from a small blood sample and the stromal vascular fraction from a small adipose tissue sample. There is no donor or synthetic material.
Treatment starts with a consultation and a review of your scans and tests. Then blood and a small adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Sarajevo, it is done in one day.
Patients from Sarajevo can start with a free review of their tests and scans: the doctor tells you whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis and what it would cost.
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use it, you agree to the Privacy Policy and data processing terms
Get a consultation
Apply before the end of the year and get a consultation at the clinic's expense!