Treat knee pain without surgery
Suffering from knee osteoarthritis?
Try the new non-surgical PFC-FD™ injection treatment.
PFC-FD™ is a trademark provided by CellSource Co., Ltd.
Are you suffering from knee pain?
I want to treat it without surgery
Hyaluronic acid injections and rehabilitation have not been effective
I have been receiving treatment for many years, but it hasn’t improved
I’m worried about side effects from the treatment
At OHTSURU SEIKEIGEKA, biotherapy knee treatments are available.
Restore your daily activities — walking, shopping, and climbing stairs with ease again!
Are you suffering from knee problems?
— A new treatment for knee osteoarthritis and meniscus injuries: PFC-FD™ injection —
■What is Biotherapy?
For the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and meniscus injuries,
the standard options include oral medications, rehabilitation, and hyaluronic acid injections.
When these treatments do not produce sufficient improvement, surgery is often considered.
However, for patients who wish to avoid surgery, a newer approach called "biotherapy" has been attracting attention in recent years.
This therapy involves injecting a preparation made from the patient’s own blood into the joint.
One of the most well-known forms of biotherapy is platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
PRP contains abundant growth factors and cytokines derived from platelets,
which are expected to promote tissue repair and have anti-inflammatory effects.
■Global Trends in Biotherapy
Blood-derived products are mainly used for knee osteoarthritis ranging from the early to advanced stages, and clinical outcomes have also been reported for treatments of the hip, ankle, and elbow joints. In Japan, these therapies are classified as "regenerative medicine" under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine. However, since the mechanisms for cartilage repair and tissue regeneration have not yet been fully elucidated, please understand that this therapy does not literally regenerate the tissue.
■Various types of blood-derived products
Among the blood-derived products attracting attention in musculoskeletal treatments, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is one of the most representative. In Japan, PRP therapy has become widely used, and favorable clinical outcomes have been reported from early to advanced stages of knee osteoarthritis.
■PFC-FD™ Injection at OHTSURU SEIKEIGEKA
Since 2018, our clinic has been offering PFC-FD™ (platelet-derived factor concentrate – freeze-dried), developed by CellSource Co., Ltd.
We have treated approximately 4,000 patients, with no serious adverse reactions reported. Significant improvements have been observed 12 months after treatment, and outcomes tend to be more favorable in earlier disease stages. Studies have also shown that three injections provide greater benefits than a single one. These clinical results have been presented at academic conferences and published internationally. If you are interested in this treatment, please feel free to consult our staff.
Features of PFC-FD™ Injection
No Surgery or Hospitalization Required
The PFC-FD™ injection is given directly into the knee joint with a syringe.
No surgery or hospitalization is required.
Low Risk of Side Effects
Because the injection is made from components derived from the patient’s own blood, it is considered to carry no serious side effects.
Favorable Clinical Results Published in Medical Journals
Dr. Ohtsuru has reported that patients showed significant improvement in symptoms 12 months after treatment, that the therapy tends to be more effective in earlier stages of the disease, and that three injections are more effective than a single injection. These findings have been published in international medical journals, demonstrating the efficacy of the treatment.
The Director’s Vision
Tadahiko Ohtsuru
Tadahiko Ohtsuru
I want to help patients suffering from knee pain through biotherapy.
The Reason I Selected Biotherapy as My Research Theme
I would like to make this the life’s work of my orthopedic career
In many medical institutions, conservative treatments such as painkillers, hyaluronic acid injections, and orthotic devices are first administered. If these fail to produce satisfactory results, surgery (such as joint replacement surgery in elderly patients) is considered.
From my own experience performing numerous surgeries, I understand that surgery is a treatment method backed by solid medical evidence and often yields a high level of patient satisfaction.
However, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of complications associated with surgery, such as infections, metal-related issues, or thrombosis.
Amid these challenges, I encountered biotherapy in 2017 and felt it offered a new possibility for patients seeking less invasive options who prefer to avoid surgery. This led me to begin investigating its clinical outcomes.
My Vision
I aim to become one of the leading specialists in biotherapy
It is my mission to help as many patients as possible who suffer from knee pain.
Although biotherapy is still in its developmental stage and current outcomes are limited to short-term results, establishing solid scientific evidence is the first step toward gaining broader recognition and understanding in society.
To achieve this, I am committed to presenting my research findings at national academic conferences and publishing papers, while sharing new insights from Hamamatsu with the world.
In the future, I hope to become someone who can contribute to the well-being of even more patients.
What I Value in Knee Treatment
My Commitment: Clear Explanations and Gentle Injections
any of the patients who visit our clinic come with feelings of anxiety,
after repeated strong painkillers or hyaluronic acid injections have failed to bring sufficient relief. That is why, when administering biotherapy injections, I take great care to minimize discomfort,
ensuring that each patient can undergo treatment with peace of mind.
Since biotherapy is a self-funded treatment, it often brings both hope and uncertainty. Therefore, I make every effort to provide clear and thorough explanations, and I promise to treat every patient with sincerity and dedication, so that they can leave thinking, "I’m glad I came here."
Consultation and Treatment Process
2. Interview and Diagnosis
We will ask about the degree of joint pain and discomfort, and determine whether the treatment is likely to be effective.
The PFC-FD™ injection is a self-funded treatment
3. Blood Collection
If PFC-FD™ injection is recommended after the consultation and diagnosis, a blood sample of approximately 50 mL will be collected.
4. PFC-FD™ Injection
You will come back to the clinic about three weeks after the blood collection to have the PFC-FD™ injected into your joint.
5. Consultation
We will check your condition after the PFC-FD™ injection.
Treatment Cost
Because bio-therapy is a new treatment, it is not covered by public health insurance and is offered as a self-funded treatment
Total: ¥150,000
(incl. tax ¥165,000)
*PFC-FD™ injection and consultation (blood collection and processing included)
FAQ
Is hospitalization required?
Hospitalization is not required. Both the blood collection and injection can be done on an outpatient basis.
Can elderly patients receive this treatment?
Yes, the treatment is certainly possible.
However, in elderly patients, osteoarthritis of the knee may already be in an advanced stage, and in such cases, the effect may be less noticeable compared to those in the early or middle stages.
Please rest assured that the director will explain this carefully in advance before proceeding with the treatment.
Are there any side effects?
According to a 2023 report, mild pain or swelling at the injection site was observed in 17 out of 302 knees (5.6%), but all cases improved within 48 hours.
No serious adverse effects were reported (Ohtsuru T et al., 2023).
Is the effect guaranteed?
Outcomes vary from person to person, so we cannot promise specific results. Factors—including age, weight, muscle strength, and growth-factor levels in the prepared solution—may influence the outcome.
Accordingly, we will take X-rays in advance and discuss in detail the likelihood of benefit.
Is this treatment available for joints other than the knee?
This treatment is also available for the hip, ankle, and shoulder joints. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Is this treatment covered by health insurance?
This treatment is not covered by health insurance and is provided as a self-funded service.
*If an infection is detected after the blood test, the injection will be canceled, and a fee of ¥10,000 (excl. tax) will be charged.