AAOS Research Symposium Updates and Consensus: Biologic Treatment of Orthopaedic Injuries

Abstract

Strategies that seek to enhance musculoskeletal tissue regeneration and repair by modulating the biologic microenvironment at the site of injury have considerable therapeutic potential. Current and emerging biologic approaches include the use of growth factors, platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and scaffolds. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons hosted a research symposium in November 2015 to review the current state-of-the-art biologic treatments of articular cartilage, muscle, tendon, and bone injuries and identify knowledge gaps related to these emerging treatments. This review outlines the findings of the symposium and summarizes the consensus reached on how best to advance research on biologic treatment of orthopaedic injuries.

Figure 1

Schematic diagram demonstrating the pyramidal approach of translational medicine. In this bottom-up approach, preclinical understanding of the disease process facilitates identification and development of biologic therapies. Therapies optimized in vitro are studied in small-animal and large-animal models and finally in clinical studies of safety and efficacy.