Frontiers of Orthopaedic Surgery
The podcast explores the latest research and clinical advances in orthopaedics, featuring insights from experts, authors, and editors behind the ESSKA Journals, KSSTA and JEO.
Through concise highlights and focused discussions, each episode brings key developments in knee surgery and sports traumatology directly to clinicians, researchers, and trainees.
Frontiers of Orthopaedic Surgery
The Potential of Orthobiologic Therapies in Joint Preservation
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Host Joaquin Moya-Angeler sits down with Elizaveta Kon and Laura de Girolamo to unpack the fast-growing field of orthobiologics – biologic therapies, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), used to treat joint and musculoskeletal conditions.
The conversation opens with a quickfire round of ten questions, giving both guests a chance to weigh in on where the field currently stands. One theme comes through clearly: PRP preparation and outcomes still vary significantly from case to case, which makes understanding the underlying pathology essential before recommending treatment.
From there, the discussion turns to why orthobiologics have grown so quickly – a mix of genuine clinical need, biological appeal, and market pressure. Osteoarthritis patients, who often have few good treatment options, are a major driver of this demand. But Kon and de Girolamo are careful to flag the downside of that rapid growth: neither the evidence base nor the regulatory frameworks have kept pace, leaving clinicians and patients alike navigating a fair amount of confusion.
Managing expectations is where the episode spends real time. Biologics can meaningfully improve symptoms and quality of life, but they're not a cure – and both guests stress that clinicians need to communicate that clearly and honestly with patients from the outset.
Looking ahead, the conversation covers where the field is heading next: the potential of gene therapy, the push for standardisation in how products are prepared, and ongoing research into personalised protocols that account for each patient's specific condition.
Kon closes with practical advice for practitioners – stay focused on the individual patient in front of you, and choose biologic products backed by solid evidence.
Papers, books and resources discussed:
More on ESSKA Orthobiologics Initiative: https://www.esska.org/news/593282/ESSKA-Orthobiologic-Initiative-ORBIT-Consensus-Process-on-Blood-Derived-Products-.htm
Optimizing Clinical Use of Biologics in Orthopaedic Surgery: Consensus Recommendations From the 2018 AAOS/NIH U-13 Conference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328167386_Optimizing_Clinical_Use_of_Biologics_in_Orthopaedic_Surgery_Consensus_Recommendations_From_the_2018_AAOSNIH_U-13_Conference
jingle track (baby jean) provided by mobygratis.
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