Future Techniques

Biologic Tissue Engineering is continuing to bring exciting new approaches from the lab to the practical application of medicine and surgery. It may be possible to use cells from the bone marrow or the lining of the bone (periosteum) that have multiple potential capability and transform them into joint surface cartilage.

There are a variety of patches to helping to repair a cartilage defect. These bio-patches, such as porcine small intestinal mucosa, have demonstrated the ability to take on the characteristics of the tissues where implanted elsewhere in the body. They are more durable than current techniques and less problematic. They are being used in the United States today as an “off label” application but are very effective. Ask the doctors of the Joint Preservation Center for more information.

Other bio-patches may have the predominant purpose of acting as a temporary home for chondrocytes (cartilage cells). They may be used to deliver and maintain the new cartilage cells to the proper position until the healing response takes effect. These are being pioneered in Europe. Some have a collagen matrix and some have a hyaluronic acid matrix. These may be available to surgeons in the United States in the next few years.

There is further research being done in the USA using juvenile chondrocytes as a one stage allograft (graft from a donor). Other techniques on the horizon in the USA include a morsilization procedure of autologous (from you) cartilage which is implanted as a one stage operation. Some of these new ideas are far from being available on a routine basis, but this is field of medicine generating a lot of excitement.