Rick Perry, the Texas governor and possible Republican presidential hopeful, had back surgery recently that was credited as part of the reason why he has delayed a decision to enter the race to potentially take on pro-abortion President Barack Obama.

The July 1 surgery was, as he called it on Twitter, a “little procedure” designed to treat a recurring injury. He said the spinal fusion and nerve decompression had gone “as advertised.”

However, the Texas Tribune, in a new article today on the procedure, says it involved the use of Perry’s own adult stem cells. Perry is a strong supporter of adult stem cell research as is the pro-life community, and he has promoted it as the more ethical and effective alternative to embryonic stem cell research because it is helping patients now without any of the moral concerns that accompany the embryonic variety.

The Tribune reported that Perry underwent an experimental injection of his own stem cells in a treatment that is not yet approved by the FDA because if its experimental component. The news web site said, “His treatment involved removing his own adult stem cells from healthy tissue and injecting them back into his body at the time of surgery, with the belief that the cells would assist tissue regeneration and speed recovery.”