Regenerative medicine has been growing in orthopedics, and there's one important element that can push it forward in the field.
"The era of one-size-fits-all healthcare is gradually giving way to personalized and regenerative medicine in the field of orthopedic surgery," James Loging, MD, of Palmetto Bone and Joint in Chapin, S.C., said. "Recognizing that each patient's condition is unique, there is a growing emphasis on tailoring treatment strategies to individual characteristics, including genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors. Advancements in regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy and tissue engineering, offer promising alternatives to traditional orthopedic interventions. These approaches aim to harness the body's natural healing mechanisms, promoting tissue regeneration and repair. From treating osteoarthritis to addressing ligament injuries, regenerative techniques hold the potential to revolutionize the field and provide more sustainable, long-term solutions for patients."
Medtech companies and orthopedic groups have had their eyes on biologics in the last year. HippoFi and Zimmer Biomet in November struck a partnership to develop and launch a novel synthetic biomaterial for bone growth. And researchers at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine discovered unique spinal vertebral stem cells that could help advance spine care.
In spine surgery there's a key distinction people in the industry should know when it comes to regenerative medicine, Kevin Pauza, MD, said.
"Spine regenerative medicine is the fastest growing area of spine, and the industry needs to know that not all spine regenerative medicine is equal," Dr. Pauza, of Tyler-based Texas Spine and Joint Hospital Baylor, said. "There's a deserved bias against spine regenerative medicine because most lack supporting research. It's for this reason I'd like the industry to know that some spine regenerative medicine is supported with excellent long-term safety and efficacy data. For example, research supporting fibrin of the Discseel procedure was awarded a NASS outstanding paper. This and other evidence contributed to the VA and Department of Defense awarding its largest spine contract to provide training and the Discseel procedure to all veterans and military personnel."
For sports medicine surgeon Michael Ciccotti, MD, the theory of biologics, there's still not enough consistent research to support it in orthopedics.
"I would emphasize that this does not mean that we give up on the potential benefit of biologic treatments," Dr. Ciccotti, of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, said. Rather, the current ambiguity of research findings is a reflection of the need to perform continued, higher-level research on its applicability and optimal use. The theory of biologics is brilliant. We just haven't figured out how to harness it yet. We need to persevere as researchers and perform more precise, continued research in order to optimize the use of biologics."