Orthobiologics Procedure Update: Less Hype, More Data

If you’ve had one more patient ask, “But my neighbor swears platelet rich plasma fixed his knee,” you’re not alone.

Orthobiologics is in mainstream buzz territory — and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is stepping in to bring some much-needed clarity.

The AAOS Orthobiologics Registry, a new disease- and condition-focused registry designed to track the long-term safety, efficacy, and real-world of orthobiologic therapies for knee osteoarthritis. The registry is launching with 10 sites and will expand carefully over the next three to five years. In other words; slow, steady, and built to generate data you can trust.

Why knee OA and why now?

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects an estimated 32.5 million adults in the U.S. and drives more than $65 billion in direct medical costs annually. At the same time, patients are increasingly interested in treatments that sound less invasive and more “natural,” including platelet-rich plasma and other blood-derived injectables.

The popularity curve has been steep. The evidence curve? Not so much.

“As orthobiologics continue to grow in popularity, we’re at a critical juncture where we need facts, not fiction,” said Jason Dragoo, M.D., FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Orthobiologics Registry and the AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology. “This registry will help us understand which patients benefit most — and under what circumstances.”

Fewer anecdotes, more answers.

From Promising to Proven (or Not)

AAOS has been clear in its guidance — orthobiologics may improve certain patient-reported outcomes, but the literature has gaps. Inconsistent protocols, limited standardization, and a lack of long-term follow-up have made it hard to draw firm conclusions.

The Orthobiologics Registry is designed to fix that.

“As new therapies gain traction for their potential to regenerate tissue and reduce pain, AAOS recognizes the need to separate science from hope,” said Dr. Dragoo. “The goal is evidence-based care, not wishful thinking.”

What’s under the hood of the Orthobiologics Registry?

This registry isn’t just a spreadsheet with good intentions. It’s built specifically to answer real clinical questions and includes:

• Research-focused design with patient consent
• Centralized collection of patient-reported outcome measures
•  Longitudinal follow-up to see what actually lasts
• Linkage to the Biologics Association Registry and Biorepository Biorepository for biologic sample analysis
• Standardized hemoanalyzer integration
• Strict data-quality adherence protocols

Cleaner data, fewer variables, and results you can defend in the exam room.

Built by People Who Like Data

AAOS partnered with Elimu Informatics and PatientIQ to make sure the registry works in the real world — not just on paper.

Elimu helped design the registry using the AAOS Master Data Dictionary, while PatientIQ built a cloud-based platform that supports both procedural data and patient-reported outcomes without bringing clinic workflow to a halt.

“It’s exciting to help lay the groundwork for scientific discovery through quality registry design,” said Edna Shenvi, M.D., MAS, senior clinical informatician at Elimu Informatics.

Matthew Gitelis, CEO of PatientIQ, summed it up: “By combining high-quality clinical data with real-world outcomes, this registry sets a new standard for understanding orthobiologics in everyday care.”

A True Team Effort

The Orthobiologics Registry is supported by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the Biologic Association — bringing multiple subspecialty perspectives to one of the fastest-growing areas in musculoskeletal care.

Part of a Bigger Biologics Strategy

The registry builds on AAOS’s biologics initiative launched in 2019, which focused on delivering unbiased education, dashboards, and position statements. The Orthobiologics Registry represents the next evolution — moving from theory to data-driven guidance.

With an aging population, rising obesity rates, and patients determined to stay active longer, orthobiologics aren’t going anywhere. Thanks to the AAOS Orthobiologics Registry, orthopedic surgeons may finally get the data needed to decide when these therapies belong in the treatment plan — and when they don’t.