Orthopedic stem cell therapy in Tijuana and Cancún

Stem cell therapy for joints, tendons, discs, and bone. Living cells are placed directly into the affected structure under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance in a 30 to 45 minute outpatient procedure, to calm the inflammation that drives pain and stiffness and support the tissue's own repair. Ten regions of the body are treated at Hospital Blue in Tijuana and Centro Quirúrgico Mayan in Cancún.

Treatment program Reviewed by Dr. Hans Ruiz, orthopedic surgeon Updated September 2026

Areas we treat

The conditions treated at each region. Your physician confirms the diagnosis against your imaging before proposing a protocol.

  1. 01

    Knee

    Osteoarthritis grades 1 to 3, meniscus tears with viable cartilage, cartilage defects, patellofemoral pain, patellar tendinopathy, post-traumatic arthritis after ACL repair or meniscectomy.

  2. 02

    Hip

    Osteoarthritis grades 1 to 3, avascular necrosis at Ficat stages I to III, hip bursitis, gluteus medius tendinopathy, labral tears with preserved joint space, residual pain after arthroscopy.

  3. 03

    Shoulder

    Early glenohumeral osteoarthritis, partial thickness rotator cuff tears, cuff tendinopathy and impingement, calcific tendinitis, biceps tendinopathy, AC joint arthritis, frozen shoulder as an adjunct.

  4. 04

    Spine

    Discogenic low back pain, degenerative disc disease of the neck and lower back, facet joint arthropathy, sciatica and radiculopathy, pain after laminectomy or discectomy, adjacent segment disease after fusion. Contained disc herniations can also be treated with Coolief nucleoplasty, a 10 to 20 minute cooled radiofrequency procedure.

  5. 05

    Sacroiliac joints

    SI joint dysfunction confirmed by diagnostic block, degenerative sacroiliitis, post-pregnancy SI pain, SI pain adjacent to a lumbar fusion.

  6. 06

    Ankle

    Ankle osteoarthritis, osteochondral defects of the talus, chronic instability after recurrent sprains, post-traumatic arthritis, Achilles tendinopathy.

  7. 07

    Foot

    Hallux rigidus (big toe arthritis), chronic plantar fasciitis, midfoot arthritis, metatarsalgia from joint degeneration.

  8. 08

    Elbow

    Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, elbow osteoarthritis, partial ulnar collateral ligament injury, distal biceps and triceps tendinopathy.

  9. 09

    Wrist and hand

    Thumb base (CMC) arthritis, finger joint osteoarthritis, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, trigger finger, post-traumatic wrist arthritis, chronic wrist pain after injury.

  10. 10

    Jaw (TMJ)

    Temporomandibular osteoarthritis, disc displacement, chronic myofascial pain with joint involvement, post-traumatic jaw damage, bruxism related degeneration.

Therapies offered

Four biologics, chosen per joint and per case. The complete formulary is on the treatments page.

  • 01

    Umbilical cord stem cells

    20 to 100 million cells per site

    Mesenchymal stem cells from the Wharton's jelly of screened donor cord tissue, expanded and released from an ISO accredited laboratory. The basis of most joint protocols: 20 to 30 million for early disease, 40 to 60 million for moderate, 100 million for avascular necrosis. How they work

  • 02

    Muse cells

    1.5 or 3.0 × 107 cells

    A stress tolerant subpopulation of mesenchymal cells with injury-site homing. Given by IV alongside the joint injection, or injected directly into the treated joint, as an add-on to any protocol. Muse protocol

  • 03

    Exosomes

    Cell-free signalling fraction

    The extracellular vesicle fraction, separated from the cells and administered cell-free. Used alone or as an adjunct to a cell protocol, especially in the disc and for post-procedure inflammation. Exosome therapy

  • 04

    Platelet rich plasma

    Same-day, from your own blood

    A concentrate of your own platelets prepared on the morning of treatment, delivering growth factors locally. Combined with stem cells for tendon problems: rotator cuff, tennis elbow, plantar fascia, thumb base.

The procedure

Local anaesthetic, image guided, 30 to 45 minutes. You walk out the same day and can usually fly home the next. Two joints are commonly treated in one visit. Spine protocols are performed under fluoroscopy. Dose and route, explained

What to expect

Walking is unrestricted from the first days and impact loading waits until week four. Most patients notice the first change at four to six weeks, with peak benefit at three to six months. Remote check-ins at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Results vary and no outcome is promised. Safety and the evidence

Where

Hospital Blue Medical Tower in Tijuana, twenty minutes from the San Diego border, with Dr. Hans Ruiz. Centro Quirúrgico Mayan in downtown Cancún, with Dr. Juan de Dios Velasco Solórzano. Same laboratory, same protocols at both.

Transparent pricing

Estimate your orthopedic protocol

Skip to an exact quote →

Your protocol

Pick the joint and how advanced the problem is. The range updates as you change options.

Estimated range
$— USD
Choose a joint to see a broad estimate.
A rough, non-binding range for planning only, not a quote or an offer of treatment. Actual pricing depends on your diagnosis, imaging, protocol, cell count, number of sessions, and location, and is confirmed by a physician after review.
Estimates cover the medical protocol itself. Flights, hotels, and most meals are separate; our team can help you plan your travel and stay. Candidacy, protocol, and dosing are determined solely by a board-certified physician following review of your history, imaging, and laboratory results. Not FDA approved for these uses; provided in México under COFEPRIS. See the cost and financing page for payment options.

A physician reviews your imaging first