Biologics News

Orthopedic surgeons who treat knee and shoulder injuries are reading and hearing more about lubricin and its important function as a lubricant in articular cartilage. It is something we will be hearing more about in the future. Recently, researchers have begun exploring its potential in the intervertebral disc.

MANCHESTER — Scientific investigators from Malaysia reported the first evidence of hyaline cartilage regeneration using intra-articular injections of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in combination with hyaluronic acid.

MANCHESTER — British researchers using an animal model determined that administering bisphosphonates for osteoporotic fractures can help increase the callus size, but the callus may be biomechanically inferior.

A federal grand jury in the District of Massachusetts has charged Stryker Biotech LLC, its former president and several of its current sales managers with allegedly promoting medical devices used for invasive spinal and long bone procedures in an improper manner.

Findings from a study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest that early outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for several common orthopedic-related sports medicine conditions appear promising, but larger clinical studies are still needed to determine the benefits of its use.

Scientists are developing new scaffolding technology that could be used to grow tissues such as cartilage, skin and nerves using 3-D spaghetti-like structures.

Most clinical researchers are convinced that biologic drugs have a positive impact on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but more studies directly comparing the effectiveness of different drugs are needed, according to Cochrane Researchers.

As researchers develop new technologies for articular cartilage repair, Kai Mithoefer, MD, took a look back at the indications, advantages and limitations of first- and second-generation techniques at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.

“This study helps justify prophylaxis in open ankle fractures in patients over 50 years old or with PVD, but commonly these factors are not sufficient to warrant medical prophylaxis.” — Ronald W. Smith, MD

A database study found diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease put patients operated on for ankle fracture at an increased risk of wound infections, revisions and amputations.