Optimizing Patient Care Using Orthobiologics.

The present-day treatment for advanced osteoarthritis is joint replacement. However, modern nonsurgical treatments have been used as a first-line option to delay or avoid arthroplasty, especially if treatments are started when osteoarthritis is moderate. Among many nonsurgical options, there has been an increased interest recently in the use of orthobiologics.

Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Treatment for Patellar Tendinopathy A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare regimens of eccentric exercise and dry-needling, with and without an ultrasound-guided leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma (LP-PRP) injection, in patients with patellar tendinopathy.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic patellar tendinopathy based on physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging and who had failed at least 6 weeks of nonoperative treatment were enrolled and randomized at two centers to receive ultrasound-guided dry-needling (DN) alone or in addition to an injection of LP-PRP coupled with standardized eccentric strengthening exercises. Participants completed patient-reported outcome surveys at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 26 weeks post-treatment.

The chimera of reaching a universal consensus on platelet-rich plasma treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a review of recent consensus statements and expert opinion.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent cause of disability worldwide, affecting millions and posing significant socioeconomic burdens. Various conservative measures like hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections aim to manage OA symptoms and delay surgical interventions. Despite the increasing utilization of PRP, consensus on its efficacy remains elusive, reflecting the evolving landscape of OA management.

Arthroscopic Lateral Retinacular-Lengthening Procedure.

Anterior knee pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint that is often due to an excessively tight lateral retinaculum, which normally plays a role in patellar tracking and stabilization. Several etiologies underlie lateral soft-tissue tightness in the knee, including lateral patellar compression syndrome, patellofemoral arthritis, patellofemoral instability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Stretching the lateral retinaculum through conservative treatment may be helpful, but lateral retinacular lengthening may be indicated.

Most Orthopaedic Platelet-Rich Plasma Investigations Don't Report Protocols and Composition: An Updated Systematic Review.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to assess the heterogeneity of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation and composition reporting for the treatment of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic pathologies.

Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify Level I and Level II studies from 2016 to 2022 that evaluated the use of PRP therapy for musculoskeletal pathologies. The search phrase used was "platelet-rich plasma clinical studies.

Editorial Commentary: Cartilage Restoration Typically Requires Joint Optimization as Well as Local Cartilage Resurfacing to Achieve Best Outcomes: The 30,000 Foot View.

Successful resurfacing of the articular surface often requires surgical optimization of the joint environment, in addition to the cartilage restoration procedure. This is the 30,000-foot view theory, where surgical planning concentrates on changing the forces in the joint that may have led to the cartilage lesion by performing essential procedures, such as osteotomies; scar tissue releases and/or ligament lengthening; joint stabilization; or meniscus replacement. With this view, which cartilage procedure should I perform becomes a secondary question.

Experts Achieve Consensus on a Majority of Statements Regarding Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments for Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pathology.

Purpose: To establish consensus statements on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies.

Methods: A consensus process on the treatment of PRP using a modified Delphi technique was conducted. Thirty-five orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians participated in these consensus statements on PRP.

A Biomechanical Comparison of All-Inside Versus Transtibial Meniscus Root Repair Techniques.

Background: Meniscus root tears are associated with chondral injury, early degenerative change, and a high conversion rate to total knee arthroplasty. It is well-established that meniscus root tears lead to decreased femorotibial contact area, increased peak contact pressures, and increased stress on the articular cartilage.

Purpose: To evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of the all-inside meniscus root repair procedure and compare it with the previously described transtibial technique.

Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries in Sport.

Sport-related shoulder injuries, including disruptions to the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ), are common. An ACJ injury is classified by the degree and direction of the clavicle displacement. Although the diagnosis can be made clinically, standard radiographic views are important to determine the severity of the ACJ disruption and assess for concurrent injuries.

Regulatory and Ethical Aspects of Orthobiologic Therapies.

Orthobiologic therapies show significant promise to improve outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal pathology. There are considerable research efforts to develop strategies that seek to modulate the biological environment to promote tissue regeneration and healing and/or provide symptomatic relief. However, the regulatory pathways overseeing the clinical translation of these therapies are complex, with considerable worldwide variation.

Nonsurgical Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: What You Should Be Injecting Now and in the Future.

Osteoarthritis of the knee affects many Americans. With the aging of the population and increasing comorbidities (eg, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease), the use of oral or topical NSAIDs is often contraindicated. Injectable treatment options are advantageous because of the ability to decrease or avoid the unwanted systematic adverse effects of NSAIDs.

Biomechanical Testing of Suture Anchor Versus Transosseous Tunnel Technique for Quadriceps Tendon Repair Yields Similar Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the suture anchor (SA) versus transosseous tunnel (TO) techniques for quadriceps tendon (QT) repair.

Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase using PRISMA guidelines to identify studies that evaluated the biomechanical properties of SA and TO techniques for repair of a ruptured QT. The search phrase used was "quadriceps tendon repair biomechanics".

Cartilage Matrix Degeneration Occurs within the First Year after ACLR and Is Associated with Impaired Clinical Outcome.

Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has not been shown to decrease the risk for development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping can be used to assess cartilage compositional changes. This study tests whether (1) worse cartilage arthroscopic status at ACLR is reflected by higher cartilage T2 values in matched study regions 6 weeks and 1 year after ACLR, and (2) increasing cartilage T2 values between 6 weeks and 1 year after ACLR are associated with worsening patient-reported outcomes.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Hip Osteoarthritis Yields Similarly Beneficial Short-Term Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level I and II Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the clinical efficacy of PRP and HA injections for hip OA. The search phrase used was hip, osteoarthritis, platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, randomized.

Single-cell transcriptomic profiling reveals distinct mechanical responses between normal and diseased tendon progenitor cells.

Regenerative medicine approaches utilizing stem cells offer a promising strategy to address tendinopathy, a class of common tendon disorders associated with pain and impaired function. Tendon progenitor cells (TPCs) are important in healing and maintaining tendon tissues. Here we provide a comprehensive single cell transcriptomic profiling of TPCs from three normal and three clinically classified tendinopathy samples in response to mechanical stimuli.

Biologic Association Annual Summit: 2020 Report.

Interest and research in biologic approaches for tissue healing are exponentially growing for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. The recent hype concerning musculoskeletal biological therapies (including viscosupplementation, platelet-rich plasma, and cellular therapies, or "stem cells") is driven by several factors, including demand by patients promising regenerative evidence supported by substantial basic and translational work, as well as commercial endeavors that complicate the scientific and lay understanding of biological therapy outcomes. While significant improvements have been made in the field, further basic and preclinical research and well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed to better elucidate the optimal indications, processing techniques, delivery, and outcome assessment.

Comparing Intra-articular Injections of Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Low-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of the Hip: A Double-Blind, Randomized Pilot Study.

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) and leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma (LP-PRP) are 2 nonoperative treatment options that have been studied in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of intra-articular injections of low-molecular weight (LMW) HA and LP-PRP in patients with hip OA.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Predictors of Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Experiencing a Knee Dislocation: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.

Knee dislocations (KDs) are devastating injuries for patients and present complex challenges for orthopaedic surgeons. Although short-term outcomes have been studied, there are few long-term outcomes of these injuries available in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine factors that influence mid- to long-term clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of KD.

T2 relaxation times of knee cartilage in 109 patients with knee pain and its association with disease characteristics.

Background and purpose - Quantitative T2 mapping MRI of cartilage has proven value for the assessment of early osteoarthritis changes in research. We evaluated knee cartilage T2 relaxation times in a clinical population with knee complaints and its association with patients and disease characteristics and clinical symptoms.Patients and methods - In this cross-sectional study, T2 mapping knee scans of 109 patients with knee pain who were referred for an MRI by an orthopedic surgeon were collected.

Proteomic analysis of platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma.

Background: Autologous blood products, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are commercial products broadly used to accelerate healing of tissues after injuries. However, their content is not standardized and significantly varies in composition, which may lead to differences in clinical efficacy. Also, the underlying molecular mechanisms for therapeutic effects are not well understood.

Tranexamic Acid Use in Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy Leads to Improved Outcomes and Fewer Hemarthrosis-Related Complications: A Systematic Review of Level I and II Studies.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to compare the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) as a means to minimize hemarthrosis-related complications after arthroscopic procedures of the knee, hip, and shoulder.

Methods: A systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to locate randomized controlled trials comparing the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications of patients undergoing arthroscopy with and without TXA. Search terms used were "tranexamic acid," "arthroscopy," "knee," "hip," and "shoulder.

Effects of unloader bracing on clinical outcomes and articular cartilage regeneration following microfracture of isolated chondral defects: a randomized trial.

Purpose: To determine whether the use of an unloading brace can increase the thickness of cartilage regenerate after microfracture surgery.

Methods: This is a randomized (1:1) controlled clinical trial. Twenty-four patients who underwent microfracture between 2012 and 2015 were identified and were randomly assigned to an unloading brace group or a no-brace group.

A Genome-wide Association Study for Concussion Risk.

Purpose: This study aimed to screen the entire genome for genetic markers associated with risk for concussion.

Methods: A genome-wide association analyses was performed using data from the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank and the UK Biobank. Concussion cases were identified based on electronic health records from the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank and the UK Biobank from individuals of European ancestry.