This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
AAHKS releases position statement on the use of biologics to treat advanced OA
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons released a position statement that it does not recommend to routine clinical use of biologics, including stem cells and platelet-rich plasma injections, for the treatment of advanced hip or knee arthritis.
“The position statement from AAHKS on the use of biologics is focused on the increasingly popular practice of injecting stem cells and platelet-rich plasma into hips and knees with advanced arthritis,” James Browne, MD, member-at-large of the board of directors of AAHKS and associate professor and vice chair of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia, told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “It is the position of the AAHKS that these injections cannot currently be recommended for advanced arthritis given the unproven benefits, high cost to the patient and safety concerns.”
Although stem cell and platelet-rich plasma injections have shown to have the potential to “repair damaged tissues and augment the body’s reparative process following injury,” the rapid promotion of these technologies for clinical use is based on highly preliminary basic science research, according to the position statement. The statement also noted that while symptoms of mild to moderate OA of the knee may be temporarily improved with the use of platelet-rich plasma, “there is little data to suggest it will benefit patients with advanced OA.” Finally, the statement noted “there is no data to support the idea that stem cells can sense the environment into which they are injected and repair damaged tissue,” or that either platelet-rich plasma or stem cells have the ability to regenerate severely damaged or lost cartilage.
“While hip and knee surgeons tend to embrace innovation and are certainly open-minded to advances in technology, it is important that clinical practice remain evidence based,” Browne said. “We encourage additional research on these therapies to define their efficacy and role in patient care.” – by Casey Tingle
Reference:
www.aahks.org/position-statements/biologics-for-advanced-hip-and-knee-arthritis/
Disclosure: Browne reports he is a paid consultant with DJO Surgical, OsteoRemedies and Novartis and receives royalties on hip and knee implants from DJO Surgical.