Kobe Bryant’s Knee Doctor Claims He Can Cure Arthritis

Kobe’s somewhat controversial knee procedure in Germany — which his pops artfully described as “a 10,000-mile oil change” — was done by a doctor who makes a fairly large claim. From ESPN: “Bryant traveled to Dusseldorf, Germany, in June for treatment, as previously reported. ESPN The Magazine has learned that he was treated by Dr. Peter Wehling, an influential but little-known molecular orthopedist who insists he’s having breakthrough success repairing aging joints by manipulating his patients’ blood. According to a source familiar with Bryant’s treatment, his blood was treated to isolate growth factors that attack inflammation, and then cultured with chemicals to increase their potency before being injected into his arthritic right knee. Wehling declined to confirm or deny that he treated Bryant. But in a rare interview about his work, he told ESPN The Magazine, ‘I am the only one to have found a way to cure arthritis.’ Bryant blamed his ailing knee for causing his minutes and shooting percentage to decrease last season. Although Wehling’s procedure shares some similarity to traditional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, the physician says he’s achieved a nearly 90 percent success rate by genetically screening his patients to personalize their treatments. His website shows him with his arm around actor Nick Nolte.”