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Orthobiologics in Houston, TX
Medically reviewed by Mufaddal M. Gombera, MD, Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon.
Dr. Mufaddal Gombera is board-certified in orthopedic surgery with subspecialty certification in sports medicine. He combines evidence-based practice with orthobiologics where they genuinely help, and he will tell you plainly when they will not. Every orthobiologic treatment at his Houston practice is performed with image guidance for accurate placement, as part of a complete plan that includes physical therapy and, when appropriate, surgical options.
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What Are Orthobiologics?
Orthobiologics are treatments prepared from your own blood or tissue and injected into an injured joint, tendon, or muscle to support your body’s healing response. They are not a replacement for surgery when surgery is needed, and they are not a cure for arthritis. For the right patient, they can reduce pain and improve function, sometimes for a year or more, and they can be a reasonable step before considering surgery.
Dr. Gombera offers:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP). A small amount of your blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, which carry the growth factors involved in healing. The concentrated platelets are injected into the injured area under ultrasound or X-ray guidance. The visit takes under an hour and you go home the same day.
- Connective tissue injections. Like PRP, these are performed with image guidance in the office.
What the Evidence Shows, Honestly
Research on orthobiologics is active and still developing. As of 2026, the fairest summary is:
- Knee arthritis: the strongest evidence for PRP. Multiple randomized trials show meaningful pain relief for mild to moderate knee arthritis (/arthritis.html), often outperforming cortisone or hyaluronic acid injections over a year. It does not regrow cartilage or reverse arthritis.
- Tennis elbow and similar chronic tendon problems: good evidence that PRP can help stubborn cases that have not improved with therapy. (Tennis elbow link, see item 5.)
- Hip and shoulder arthritis, and most other uses: evidence is weaker and more mixed. Dr. Gombera will tell you when the honest answer is that PRP is unproven for your condition.
FDA status, stated plainly: PRP and similar orthobiologic preparations are not FDA-approved as treatments for arthritis, tendon injuries, or any orthopedic condition. They are prepared at the point of care using cleared devices, and their use for orthopedic conditions is based on the developing clinical evidence above, not on FDA approval. Any clinic that tells you otherwise, or that promises regeneration or an arthritis cure, is ahead of the science.
Who Is a Candidate
Orthobiologics may be worth considering if you have mild to moderate knee arthritis or a chronic tendon problem , you have already given physical therapy, activity modification, and standard treatments a fair trial, and you understand the evidence picture above.
Cost and Insurance
Orthobiologic treatments are generally not covered by insurance or Medicare and are paid out of pocket. Contact our office for current pricing. We will tell you the full cost before you schedule, and we will never pressure you into a cash-pay treatment when a covered, evidence-based option serves you better.
Who Is NOT a Candidate
Honest patient selection matters more with orthobiologics than almost anywhere else in orthopedics, because these treatments are marketed aggressively to people they cannot help. Dr. Gombera does not recommend orthobiologics for:
- Advanced (bone-on-bone) arthritis. Injections cannot rebuild lost cartilage. Joint replacement is usually the honest conversation.
- Structural tears that need repair. A torn ACL, a displaced labral tear, or a retracted rotator cuff tear needs surgical treatment; an injection will not reattach torn tissue.
- Anyone seeking a guaranteed result. Response varies from patient to patient, and no reputable physician can promise an outcome.
If that describes your situation, he will say so and walk you through the alternatives, from structured physical therapy to hip arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair, or joint replacement referral.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the difference between PRP and cortisone?
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory that calms pain quickly but does not help tissue heal, and repeated doses can weaken tissue over time. PRP concentrates your own platelets to support the healing response; relief builds more slowly but tends to last longer for the right conditions.
Does PRP regrow cartilage?
No. PRP can reduce pain and improve function in mild to moderate knee arthritis, but it does not regrow cartilage or reverse arthritis. Be skeptical of any clinic that claims it does.
How long does a PRP injection take, and what is recovery like?
The visit takes under an hour: a blood draw, about 15 minutes of processing, and an image-guided injection. Most people are sore for a few days and return to normal activity quickly; Dr. Gombera will give you a specific plan for your condition.
How many injections will I need?
Many patients start with a single injection and reassess. Some conditions respond better to a short series. Dr. Gombera will recommend the fewest treatments the evidence supports, not a package.
Is PRP FDA-approved?
No orthobiologic injection is FDA-approved to treat orthopedic conditions. PRP is prepared with FDA-cleared devices, and its use rests on clinical research that is still developing. Dr. Gombera will tell you honestly how strong that research is for your specific problem.
Will insurance cover it?
Almost never; these are cash-pay treatments. Our office will quote you the full price before you decide anything.
Talk Through Your Options Honestly
Whether orthobiologics, physical therapy, or surgery is the right next step, Dr. Gombera will give you a straight answer. Call (713) 794-3457 or book online at Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Houston.
Dr Gombera, MD