Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Emergence of Orthobiologics as a Novel Therapeutic Modality for Osteoarthritis of Knee

Aditya Aggarwal and Balaji Saibaba

Osteoarthritis [OA] of knee is a common cause of disability worldwide. The number of non-operative treatment options is on the rise. Orthobiologic therapy has emerged as a novel yet effective modality for early OA. It aims at achieving biologic repair, by repairing the damaged joint surface with autologous articular cartilage. Exploiting the healing and rejuvenating properties of body's own cells for the repair and renewal of damaged tissues is the basic crux behind orthobiologic therapy. Creation of an ambient structural, biological and biomechanical environment is an essential prerequisite for successful orthobiologic therapy. There are a number of orthobiologic options - platelet rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow concentrate (BMC), adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and autologous conditioned serum. This review article discusses the clinical indications, rationale, preparation, pros and cons of each one of them in detail along with a comprehensive review of published literature.