What is Orthobiologics?
Orthobiologics refers to the use of biological substances to help musculoskeletal injuries heal quicker as well as treat the symptoms and functional impairments imposed by Osteoarthritis. They are used to improve the healing of fractured bones and injured muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well as stop pain and inflammation. It is inflammation that causes pain and leads to limited function in Osteoarthritis. Biologics are derived from substances that are naturally found in the body.
The substances include bone grafts, autologous blood, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous conditioned serum, and stem cells.
In determining the appropriate treatment for your arthritic knee, for instance, the following criteria are taken into account:
INDICATION PROFILE
Function-Limiting Pain
• Function-Limiting Pain at Moderate to Long Distances
• Function-Limiting Pain at Short Distances
• Pain at Rest or Night
Range of Motion Extension/Flexion
• Full Range of Extension/ Flexion
• Lack of Full Extension (> 5-degree flexion contracture) and/or Flexion (< 110 degrees)
Ligamentous Instability (not to include antalgic giving way)
• No Ligamentous Instability
• Ligamentous Instability
Pattern of Arthritic Involvement
• Arthritic Involvement Predominantly in One Compartment
• Arthritic Involvement in More than One Compartment
Imaging (joint space most involved compartment)
• Mild to Moderate Joint Space Narrowing
• Severe Joint Space Narrowing
Limb Alignment
• No Varus/Valgus/Patellofemoral Deformity; bowleg /knock knee
• Varus/Valgus and/or Patellofemoral mal-alignment; knee cap
Mechanical Symptoms Compatible with Meniscal Tear or Loose Body?
• Mechanical Symptoms Present
• Mechanical Symptoms Absent
Age: physiologic and not chronologic
• Young
• Middle-Aged
• Elderly
Different criteria are taken into account for your other joints. How Biologics, when properly chosen and properly prepared and administered, may make a difference?
The following was received from a patient with fairly advanced osteoarthritis who underwent a Bone Marrow Concentrate knee intervention over five years ago:
October 15, 2021
Hi Doc
Here is the 2021 installment of A ____ & my taking annual trips. This year we traveled to Moab, UT and spent a week in the Arches & Canyonlands National Parks. While we didn’t log as many miles as last year, this year’s hikes were much more challenging. That is the trails in these parks are not clear & even. Rather they required a lot of scrambling (climbing up, over and around rocks and boulders). In the end all went off without a hitch and we had a wonderful time. Again, this would not have been possible without you and your staff. Next year, we will be attacking the Canadian Rockies.
You too can take a hike or bike, ski, and enjoy function without pain in your arthritic joint by calling (312) 475-1893. Visit my website at www.sheinkopmd.com. With two arthritic hips and two arthritic knees, having personally been managed with biologics these past five years, I was able to take a three-hour ride with my biking partner along the fabulous and beautiful Chicago Lakefront yesterday.