Biologic technologies are also employed by the world-class surgeons at Ortho Rhode Island. By utilizing alternative biologics when appropriate, our surgeons can address cartilage defects, nonunion of bones, inflammation, fractures, previously irreparable injuries like tendon tears, and more. Opting for innovative techniques like biologic procedures can aid patients suffering from bone, cartilage and soft tissue loss and injury.
Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones and allows easy gliding of the joints. This cartilage can become damaged due to age, injury, or disease, causing its smooth surface to become rough. OATS is a method of treating cartilage damage extensive enough to expose underlying bone. The procedure replaces both the articular cartilage on the surface and the underlying bone.
OATS is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure that harvests bone and intact articular cartilage from another area of the patient’s body, a process known as an autograft, to fill the defect in the damaged portion. Over time, the grafted healthy cartilage grows into the previously damaged area.
Osteochondral Autograft Transfer
Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones and allows easy gliding of the joints. This cartilage can become damaged due to age, injury, or disease, causing its smooth surface to become rough. OATS is a method of treating cartilage damage extensive enough to expose underlying bone. The procedure replaces both the articular cartilage on the surface and the underlying bone.
An Osteochondral Allograft is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure that harvests bone and intact articular cartilage from the body of a donor, a process known as an allograft, to fill the defect in the damaged portion. Over time, the grafted healthy cartilage grows into the previously damaged area.
Osteochondral Allograft
BioCartilage Allograft Repair is a procedure to repair damaged articular cartilage that uses BioCartilage, a mixture of cartilage cells from donor tissue and the patient’s stem cells. This procedure can encourage and improve healing within damaged articular cartilage.
First, the surgeon completes a microfracture procedure, which involves drilling tiny holes in the damaged portion of the joint to stimulate bone marrow. Then, much like patching a pothole, BioCartilage is applied to the damaged area of the joint and sealed, providing an environment that encourages the body to create new, healthy cartilage.
Biocartilage Allograft Repair (Knee)
Biocartilage Allograft Repair (Ankle)
Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones and allows easy gliding of the joints. This cartilage can become damaged due to age, injury, or disease, causing its smooth surface to become rough. Cartiform Osteochondral Allograft repairs damaged cartilage using donor tissue, with pores and a reduced bony portion compared to traditional osteochondral allografts. This Cartiform is flexible and can be implanted in a single surgical procedure to help repair damaged articular cartilage.
A Cartiform Osteochondral Allograft is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a flexible that can be implanted in a single surgical procedure to help repair damaged articular cartilage. Over time, the grafted healthy cartilage grows into the previously damaged area.
Cartiform Osteochondral Allograft
IOBP is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs bone marrow lesions, also known as bone bruises. IOBP treats these lesions by decompressing the injured bone area and introducing biologic materials like platelet-rich plasma or allograft to accelerate and promote healing.
IOBP begins with a process called core decompression, which entails drilling a small hole in the injured bone to reduce pressure. The damaged tissue is then removed from the bone, and the area is backfilled with biologic materials such as PRP, which has a high concentration of growth factors that promote healing.
IntraOsseous BioPlasty (IOBP)
When symptoms of a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery using biologic scaffolds – materials such as autografts may be used to augment or replace the damaged tendon.
Using a combination of an arthroscopic and an open approach, the surgeon affixes the biologic scaffold over the site of the rotator cuff tear, and anchors it to the bone. This procedure can improve tendon strength, promote healing, and reduce the likelihood or re-rupture.
Rotator Cuff Repair with Biological Augmentation/Replacement