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Artificial Cartilage May Reduce Knee Replacement Surgeries

| March 13, 2015 Comment

Artificial Cartilage May Reduce Knee Replacement Surgeries – Knee replacement surgeries are becoming very common, and according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over 600,000 are performed every year in the US. That number may exceed 3 million by 2030 because of an aging population with knee problems and obesity.

Doctors have now come up with a new option for people with knee problems that can help them avoid or at least delay total knee replacement surgery (total knee arthroplasty or TKA). For the first time, doctors were able to successfully implant plastic cartilage into a patient’s knees. The patient, Drake Ross, got the procedure done at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, when cartilage between his thigh and shin bones, an area called the meniscus, began to tear from frequent running.

Ross underwent three surgeries to shave off the damaged part of his meniscus, and found out that the kind of damage caused to his knees would only get worse with time. So he opted for an experimental surgery being offered by the medical center. According to Dr. Christopher Kaeding,who performed the surgery, the plastic cartilage replaces most of the damaged meniscus, and may also conform to patients’ bodies. He will be monitoring Ross to track his mobility and pain level with the implant.

If successful, the artificial cartilage implant could offer a viable option for patients with knee injuries.

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Category: News

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