Orthobiologics as an Adjunct to Surgical Treatment

Description

In this presentation, Dr. Johnny Huard discusses the advancements and research in orthobiologics, particularly highlighting the regenerative medicine program developed in Vail, Colorado, funded by multiple institutions, including the NIH and the Department of Defense. He outlines the key areas of focus in orthobiologics such as gene therapy, CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing, and the use of therapeutics off-label for musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Huard emphasizes the necessity of clinical trials to provide evidence for the efficacy of treatments like PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate), detailing their clinic's development of a ProofPoint Biologics Orthobiologics clinic that has conducted thousands of PRP treatments in 2023. He explains the clinic's manual methods and the basic science research being conducted to improve treatment outcomes, including promising animal studies on fibrosis and its impact on cartilage repair.



Dr. Huard introduces new approaches for treating osteoarthritis, particularly the effects of senescent cells in knee joints and how they contribute to inflammation and pain. He highlights current studies exploring the potential of senolytic drugs, like fisetin, to eliminate these cells and delay osteoarthritis progression, along with clinical trials aimed at establishing the effectiveness of this approach.



Furthermore, he discusses ongoing research into optimizing surgery using pre-operative treatments to reduce inflammation and the use of losartan to minimize fibrosis after joint replacements, stressing the importance of patient collaboration and data collection. The presentation underlines the future of orthobiologics extending beyond traditional methods and incorporating various innovative treatments and techniques to enhance patient care.

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