AAOS develops educational material regarding orthobiologics
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Key takeaways:
- The AAOS aims to educate patients on risks and benefits of orthobiologics.
- Some questions related to orthobiologics remain unanswered, and researchers urge patients to proceed with caution.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons developed material designed to educate patients and provide resources on the risks and benefits of orthobiologics, according to a press release.
“While we are witnessing huge advancements in orthobiologics that have shown promise for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis and tendinopathies, such as tennis elbow, I would encourage everyone to do their homework because it is not a viable treatment option for everyone,” Jason L. Dragoo, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Devices, Biologics and Technology Committee, said in the release. “The regenerative therapies touted in radio ads or featured on highway billboards may not be grounded in science.”
To combat some of the potential risks associated with orthobiologics, Dragoo said that patients should seek out a physician who is board certified, a fellow of the AAOS and a clinical researcher in orthobiologics who tracks patient outcomes.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions and until we have those answers, we should proceed with caution,” Dragoo said. “The AAOS is leading discussions with the FDA and other leading orthopedic industry representatives to create evidence-based, unbiased information and guide advancements in the next 5 years that will help ensure more beneficial and targeted orthobiologic treatments for specific conditions.”
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