Alpine Spine & Orthopedics

Alpine Spine & Orthopedics Interventional Orthopedics, Nerve, Pain, & Spine Disorders: Regenerative Medicine Treatments using Minimally-Invasive Image-Guided Interventions.

Innovative advancements in interventional orthopedics, complex spine, brain, nerve, pain, & sports medicine with a focus on regenerative medicine and minimally-invasive image-guided techniques. Cutting-edge regenerative treatments now available for arthritis and disorders of tendon, ligament, joint, labrum, meniscus, nerve, disc & spine injuries.

The Future of 3D Stem Cell Tissue Engineering Interventions:We are designing numerous types of stem cell hydrogel scaffo...
11/03/2025

The Future of 3D Stem Cell Tissue Engineering Interventions:

We are designing numerous types of stem cell hydrogel scaffolds and patches with signaling factors for repairing a wide variety of tissue injuries and conditions.

Dr Richard J McMurtrey MD MSc is the master of biomaterial scaffolds and cellular tissue engineering. Over the last decade he has published ground-breaking work creating the first 3D neural tissue from patients' own cells by reprogramming them into stem cells and culturing on 3D nano-patterned biocompatible scaffolds where new neurons formed new synaptic connections by following signaling cues. At that time Yamanaka had not even won the Nobel prize yet for his stem cell work. This was cutting edge back then and still today, and has further expanded into numerous orthopedic applications. It's beautiful to see his work finally being taken on by top universities for future clinical applications. The hope is to soon apply further discoveries to promote even better healing and repair in many more types of tissue damage.

Using patient's own mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), Dr McMurtrey creates natural biomaterial scaffolds to help stem cells bind, integrate, and rebuild tissue injuries. There are even more types of natural and synthetic biocompatible scaffoldings in research phase both with our institute and others. Dr. McMurtrey continues leading research work with 3D stem cell patches that are placed with minimally-invasive 3D image-guided techniques. 

www.AlpineSpineOrthopedics.com

Images show applications in ligament reinforcement and repair: "Mechanical Reinforced and Self-healing Hydrogels: Bioprinted Biomimetic Methacrylated Collagen Peptide-Xanthan Gum Constructs for Ligament Regeneration" Weng et al. 

 


  
 







Proof that our stem cell patching techniques can truly repair cartilage and meniscus:We got follow-up imaging confirming...
11/02/2025

Proof that our stem cell patching techniques can truly repair cartilage and meniscus:

We got follow-up imaging confirming repair of both cartilage and meniscus injuries with side-by-side comparisons (screenshots above, even more apparent when reviewing all images, independent third-party unbiased radiologist confirmatiom unaware of treatments).

PRE-TREATMENT REPORT:
"Vertical longitudinal tear at the periphery of the body of the medial meniscus. Partial-thickness chondral fissuring of the lateral patellar facet with a small chondral flap."

POST- STEM CELL PATCHING TREATMENTS:
(same facility, same radiologist, side-by-side comparison, blinded to treatment):
"The medial meniscus is intact. The articular cartilage of the patellofemoral compartment is preserved. No abnormality identified."

www.AlpineSpineOrthopedics.com/
 
Copyright © 2025 Richard J. McMurtrey MD, MSc 
Alpine Spine & Orthopedics Institute 
All Rights Reserved 

Consequences of Spine Surgery: What started as a single-level pars fracture repair eventually ended up as a classic exam...
11/02/2025

Consequences of Spine Surgery: What started as a single-level pars fracture repair eventually ended up as a classic example of catastrophic consequences later in life. This is not just an extreme example, spine surgeries have high failure and complication rates, and these kinds of cases are surprisingly common. Many studies suggest nearly a 50% rate of failed back surgery (see article screenshots), and even if the surgery goes well, patients will eventually need revision surgeries and extensions of fusion later in life due to the natural mechanical consequences, especially when fusions are done at a young age, it typically leads to a lifetime of revision surgeries.

Many of the complex surgeries that Dr. McMurtrey did had already undergone a dozen or more revisions by other surgeons that had been complicated by numerous problems, including adjacent segment disease, nerve injuries, scar tissue, CSF leaks, failed hardware, poor corrective curvatures, sagittal imbalance, scoliosis, proximal junctional kyphosis, infections, and other degenerative effects, requiring further extensions of fusion to the point where he did many full length Cranium to Sacrum Fusions and pinned the SI joints that had destabilized below the fusion. He did numerous approaches from anterior, posterior, lateral, oblique, and transforaminal techniques, and had to account for numerous factors and also manage numerous complications in the ICU. As part of this patient’s failed back surgery syndrome above, note the progression of adjacent segment disc disease, straight back syndrome, proximal junctional kyphosis, spinal deformity and muscle atrophy.

Dr. McMurtrey saw the pain and suffering of these patients daily, and he always thought that if he could have saved them from the first surgery that it would have avoided a lifetime of suffering, which is why he forged a different path using new ground-breaking regenerative tissue engineering techniques, and his 3D spinal tissue engineering research work continues onward!

(Images from “Surgical Planning of Sagittal Alignment in Degenerative Lumbar Spine” SDSF.)




Impressive repair of unstable L5 pars fractures in a 32 year old where the fractures extended into the facets, especiall...
08/18/2025

Impressive repair of unstable L5 pars fractures in a 32 year old where the fractures extended into the facets, especially on the left where L5 nerve root was compressed due to a combination of disc bulge, fracture edge, facet arthrosis, instability, and 7mm of spondylolisthesis with 4-7mm fracture gaps. At 3 months post-op, the patient chose to repeat these procedures to further reinforce healing of all structures, and 3D CT confirmed new partial bridging and ossification on the lateral margins on both sides of the fracture! There has since been further bridging, partial ossification bilaterally on lateral margins with continued integration and remodeling of connective tissue patches medially, and diminished marrow edema stress reaction throughout. Both right and left sides have portions that re-bridged and re-fused. Interestingly, the spondylolisthesis on both static and dynamic flexion/extension imaging has reduced from 7mm down to 4mm and the dynamic translation has completely resolved down to 0mm showing complete stabilization per independent unbiased radiologist reports. The primary concern thus remains the facet joint cartilage damage, but the facet cartilage and contour appear much improved and patient also reports no more nerve/back pain since treatment except minor facet pain if overlifting, and this should continue to remodel and repair even further over time.

The Stem Cell + PRF autograft patching approach recapitulates the natural mechanisms of fracture repair utilizing bone marrow stem cells with sticky scaffolding. This is done minimally-invasively with 3D image-guidance to bridge, repair, reinforce, and rebuild tissue.

Copyright ©️ 2025 ASOI
PT AP






























This unique case of a D1 athlete (multisport volleyball/cheer/dance/etc) sustained 2 unilateral pars fractures and 2 sac...
06/23/2025

This unique case of a D1 athlete (multisport volleyball/cheer/dance/etc) sustained 2 unilateral pars fractures and 2 sacral fractures, yet remained undiagnosed by doctors at some of the best institutions in California and was offered no direction or options. Fortunately the patient's mother did her own research and discovered our treatments. Our 3D imaging added further clarity to everything going on, and the procedures themselves also helped pin down the main pain generators. 4 months later both her pars fractures have healed with solid bone confirmed on CT scan, while her sacral fractures are more complex extending into the SI joint cartilage, thus will likely take longer to heal and recover but are still improving. The patient and mother have been extremely kind and grateful beyond words, and we feel immensely privileged to help in these complex cases.

Stem Cell + PRF autograft patching recapitulates the natural mechanisms of fracture repair utilizing bone marrow stem cells with sticky fibrin patches to seal the fracture and construct new tissue scaffolding to repair the defect. This is done minimally-invasively with 3D image-guidance to patch, repair, and reinforce the defects.

The Future of Spine & Orthopedic Interventions:
🇨🇭 Stem Cell Therapies
🇨🇭 Interventional Orthopedics
🇨🇭 Interventional Spine, Joint, & Nerve

✅️ Degenerative Discs, Nerves, & Spinal Facet Arthritis
✅️ Neck Pain, Back Pain, & Spine Disorders
✅️ Non-Union/Non-Healing Fractures

➡️ Minimally-Invasive Image-Guided Interventions
➡️ Spinal Interventions for Neck & Back Pain
➡️ Arthritis & Joint Therapies
➡️ Stem Cell, PRF, & Peptide Therapies

Copyright ©️ 2025 ASOI
PT AH






























This patient is a nationally-ranked wrestler who had new onset back pain and was found to have a complete left L4 pars f...
06/22/2025

This patient is a nationally-ranked wrestler who had new onset back pain and was found to have a complete left L4 pars fracture (4mm gap) and partial right L4 non-displaced stress defect. Upon reviewing the MRI the reasons became clear-- he also has a Bertolotti's type 4 variant where the L5 vertebra didn't correctly develop and essentially tried to become part of the sacrum on the left, thereby putting excess stress and strain through the L4 pars interarticularis above. Sadly this anatomy will always make him prone to reinjury, but this is a good example that even with extreme anatomic anomalies there can still be full healing, repair, and resolution of pain.

Stem Cell + PRF autograft patching recapitulates the natural mechanisms of fracture repair utilizing bone marrow stem cells with sticky fibrin patches to seal the fracture and construct new tissue scaffolding to repair the defect. This is done minimally-invasively with 3D image-guidance to patch, repair, and reinforce the defects. The patch itself integrates and diffuses many growth factors, peptides, and exosomes over the course of many months, and the stem cells are the construction workers that build connective tissue and bone bridging.

The Future of Spine & Orthopedic Interventions:
🇨🇭 Stem Cell Therapies
🇨🇭 Interventional Orthopedics
🇨🇭 Interventional Spine, Joint, & Nerve

✅️ Degenerative Discs, Nerves, & Spinal Facet Arthritis
✅️ Neck Pain, Back Pain, & Spine Disorders
✅️ Non-Union/Non-Healing Fractures

➡️ Minimally-Invasive Image-Guided Interventions
➡️ Spinal Interventions for Neck & Back Pain
➡️ Arthritis & Joint Therapies
➡️ Stem Cell, PRF, & Peptide Therapies

Copyright ©️ 2025 ASOI
PT MG






























Obviously not every case of minimally-invasive stem cell patching is completely successful for pars fracture repair... i...
06/16/2025

Obviously not every case of minimally-invasive stem cell patching is completely successful for pars fracture repair... in this case, a football player achieved complete ossified repair of the right pars fracture but not the left side of this bilateral spondylolysis fracture. The right side was 4mm gap and the left was 5mm gap, but there are many other factors that contribute to success or failure, which is part of the research we're working on.

The Stem Cell + PRF autograft patching approach recapitulates the natural mechanisms of fracture repair utilizing bone marrow stem cells with sticky fibrin patches to seal the fracture and construct new tissue scaffolding to repair the defect. This is done minimally-invasively with 3D image-guidance to patch, repair, and reinforce the defects. The patch itself integrates and diffuses many growth factors, peptides, and exosomes over the course of many months, and the stem cells are the construction workers that build connective tissue and bone bridging. This patient has had complete resolution of his pain with excellent one-sided re-bridging and reunionization, and the other side should also continue to remodel and repair over time.

The Future of Spine & Orthopedic Interventions!
🇨🇭 Stem Cell Therapies
🇨🇭 Interventional Orthopedics
🇨🇭 Interventional Spine, Joint, & Nerve

We Frequently Treat:
✅️ Degenerative Discs, Nerves, & Spinal Facet Arthritis
✅️ Neck Pain, Back Pain, & Spine Disorders
✅️ Non-Union/Non-Healing Fractures

We Provide New Cutting-Edge Solutions:
➡️ Minimally-Invasive Image-Guided Interventions
➡️ Spinal Interventions for Neck & Back Pain
➡️ Arthritis & Joint Therapies
➡️ Stem Cell, PRF, & Peptide Therapies

Copyright ©️ 2025 ASOI
PT CH






























Can nerves also be repaired in pars fracture cases? Some cases of pars fractures and spondylolisthesis also have nerve r...
05/11/2025

Can nerves also be repaired in pars fracture cases? Some cases of pars fractures and spondylolisthesis also have nerve root compression or irritation, and patients wonder if this can resolve in addition to their back pain. Leaving nerve root symptoms untreated can eventually possibly result in permanent nerve damage, so this is one of the few symptoms that can lead you towards surgical interventions, but we now have good data with numerous patients who have had significant nerve root pain fully resolve after our minimally-invasive pars fracture BMSC + PRF patching repair procedures. There are a few mechanisms that enable this nerve protection and repair:

1) Once the bridging pars patch is in place, it prevents bone fragments from grinding into the nerve (see the the pars bone fragment in Patient 1 on the top row where the PRF patch formed a protective roof over the nerve, and this patient now has no nerve pain at all).

2) Once the bridging pars patch integrates and begins to solidify, the vertebrae stabilize and do not shift and pinch the nerve (see the resolution of the pars defects in Patient 2 on the bottom row, who also now has no nerve pain at all).

3) I also use epidural approaches to place a regenerative hydrogel cushion around the nerve root and lubricate between the disc and the nerve root with regenerative agents to promote nerve repair through a variety of growth factors and cell signaling mechanisms.

The Future of Mininally-Invasive Image-Guider Spine, Orthopedics, Joint, & Nerve Interventions:
🇨🇭 Stem Cell Therapies for Tissue Repair
🇨🇭 Interventional Orthopedics
🇨🇭 Interventional Spine & Nerve

Copyright © 2025
Richard J. McMurtrey MD, MSc
Alpine Spine & Orthopedics Institute
All Rights Reserved

Well today was crazy... we had 2 more sets of follow-up imaging reports come in from 2 different radiologists in 2 diffe...
04/30/2025

Well today was crazy... we had 2 more sets of follow-up imaging reports come in from 2 different radiologists in 2 different states from 2 patients who each had L4 pars fractures and each underwent the BMSC+PRF patching procedures around 3 months ago. Both patients had different variants of Bertolotti's syndrome with partial sacralization of L5, which puts more strain onto L4. Both patients used their home radiology facilities to compare before and after images, and both orders requested specifically to assess for healing of pars fractures. Review of the imaging along with both reports confirmed complete full osseous repair with resolution of stress reactions (summary of reports shown). I am in the process of putting the mass amounts of data together and writing this up for publication, but the process is long and patient requests keep piling up despite working late every night, so thank you everyone for your patience, we are onto something critically important 🙏

The Future of Spine, Orthopedics, Joint, & Nerve Interventions! 
🇨🇭 Stem Cell Therapies for Tissue Repair 
🇨🇭 Interventional Orthopedics 
🇨🇭 Interventional Spine & Nerve 

We Frequently Treat: 
✅️ Degenerative Discs and Spinal Facet Arthritis 
✅️ Neck Pain, Back Pain, & Spine Disorders
✅️ Non-Union/Non-Healing Pars Fractures

New Cutting-Edge Solutions:
➡️ Minimally-Invasive Surgery Alternatives & Image-Guided Interventions 
➡️ Spinal Interventions for Neck & Back Pain 
➡️ Arthritis & Joint Therapies
➡️ Stem Cell, PRF, PRP, & Peptide Therapies

Copyright © 2025 
Richard J. McMurtrey MD, MSc 
Alpine Spine & Orthopedics Institute 
All Rights Reserved 
PT DM MG

Address

920 E 800 N Suite 202
Orem, UT
84097

Telephone

+18015003001

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