Our Leadership, Team & Philosophy

Our Philosophy

Dr. Bright McConnell has practiced orthopedic surgery in Charleston, SC for over 30 years. He stays ahead of new technologies, processes, and treatment opportunities. Charleston Sports Medicine patients benefit from current treatment options for musculoskeletal problems that are less debilitating and proven in efficacy. Over the past decade, the science behind orthobiologics has exploded. Typically referred to in several different forms, orthobiologics was first utilized in oral surgery in the mid-1990s.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) Dr. McConnell worked with PRP for years as the team physician for the College of Charleston. PRP was used on injured athletes to achieve rapid recovery and healing. Referred commonly among athletes as “spinning blood”, PRP has progressed over the years into an effective, minimally invasive technique to increase regeneration and healing of osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, and chronic tendon problems.

At the other end of the Orthobiologics spectrum is the growing interest in stem cell utilization as it relates to orthopedic or musculoskeletal medicine. While invasive treatments such as joint arthroplasty, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement remain appropriate solutions for the reduction of pain and the improvement of function for many patients, regenerative medicine therapies are a minimally invasive option for many patients. Determining whether a patient is a candidate for minimally invasive regenerative medicine treatments begins with an evaluation. If traditional treatments such as bracing or biomechanical optimization, and a treatment course with interarticular medication including corticosteroid injections and image-guided hyaluronate injections have occurred and failed to relieve pain, further options should be considered. Stem cell therapy has been a breakthrough therapy for knee osteoarthritis and joints and other issues that previously only had surgery as an option.

The recent literature supports the use of either bone marrow aspirate with or without adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells or “lipo-aspirate” either separately or in combination. Clinical studies support the orthobiologics and stem cell use in the orthopedic specialty. While downtime and price point are considerably lower than surgical treatments, insurance companies continue to deny coverage. Therefore, therapies are often “out of pocket”. Charleston Sports Medicine works hard to keep fees reasonable and competitive. In fact, we recommend strongly comparing experience, board certification, utilization, and price prior to committing to a regenerative treatment in orthopedics.

Also, there is the availability of amniotic allogra. An allogra tissue is a donation from someone
else and may be derived from the amniotic tissue from the placenta obtained at the time of child delivery. It is important to note that the amniotic tissue has nothing to do with the controversial area of embryonic stem cell therapy, or utilizing fetal tissue. Typical harvesting occurs from previously screened mothers delivering healthy babies via C-section. e amnion tissue has immunologic protection. is means there is very little risk of the tissue being rejected by the recipient.

We are equally excited about subchondroplasty. Subchondroplasty is a less invasive alternative to knee replacement that allows instant stabilization of the failing bone structure and gives it immediate support. A simple cannula is placed into the affected area of the bone and calcium phosphate is injected. e surrounding bone will incorporate the calcium phosphate and grow into it.

The orthopedic industry continues to develop new and exciting treatments under the category of orthopedic regeneration or orthobiologics. Patients and practitioners alike look forward to the continued improvements and availability of technologies in the eld of orthobiologics as it relates to musculoskeletal medicine.