First-in-Ohio: Tissue From Patient’s Cells Used for Knee Cartilage Tx

Doctors at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are the first in Ohio to use a tissue implant made from a patient’s own cells to treat knee cartilage damage. In an effort to gain regulatory approval, the Neocart cartilage tissue implant is currently in an FDA-approved, randomized trial that is underway at 20 sites nationwide. Researchers are comparing the implant to the current standard-of-care for patients with articular cartilage defects of the knee

“Despite the availability of procedures and treatments, patients are often left searching for new options due to incomplete recovery or limited duration of effect, ” said David Flanigan, M.D., the surgeon who implanted the cartilage and associate professor of orthopedics at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, in the August 20, 2015 news release. “If this implant works how we think it will, this could be a long-term, permanent solution for patients with these injuries.”

“The hope is that embedding patients with their own cells will lead to a more durable replacement of the lost cartilage and improve patient outcomes, ” Flanigan said.

Dr. Flanigan told OTW, “It was surprising to learn that cartilage restoration with scaffolds is technically easy and efficient. There are exciting advances in cartilage restoration that may assist the surgeon in the near future. Clinical trials in this area will allow us to know if these treatment modalities are effective and durable.”

Histogenics, manufacturers of the Neocart, is sponsoring the clinical trial.