Pigs May Improve Damaged Leg Muscles and Help with Tissue Regeneration

Pigs may be helping patients with muscle injuries. Researchers found that damaged leg muscles grew stronger and showed signs of regeneration in three out of five men whose old injuries were surgically implanted with extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from pig bladder.

When people lose a large volume of muscles, typically due to trauma, the body can't sufficiently replace it. This can leave patients with limited movement and impaired strength and function, especially when scar tissue forms.

Now, though, it seems that there's a way to help with muscle regeneration. The researchers implanted a "quilt" of compressed ECM sheets designed to fill into injury sites. Within 48 hours of the operation, the volunteers received physical therapy for up to 26 additional weeks.

Three of the patients, two of whom had thigh injuries and one who had a calf injury, were stronger by 20 percent or more six months after the surgery. In fact, one thigh-injured patient improved on one of the physical tests by 1,820 percent.  In fact, biopsies and scans revealed that muscle growth had occurred.

"This new study is the first to show replacement of new functional muscle tissue in humans, and we're very excited by its potential," said Stephen F. Badylak, one of the researchers, in a news release. "These are patients who can't walk anymore, can't get out of a car, can't get up and down from a chair, can't take steps without falling. Now we might have a way of helping them get better."

The findings are huge when it comes to helping those with muscle injuries. It's an important step toward helping patients in need. More specifically, it represents the ability to repair tissues and improve function with materials derived from natural proteins. This creates more options to help patients.

The findings are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.