Studies show every 45 seconds another patient in the US undergoes knee replacement surgery-but there may be a less invasive procedure available in the future.
For the first time in the U.S., surgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have implanted a plastic device designed to help patients with injured or deteriorating meniscus cartilage.
The meniscus is located between the thigh and shin bones and once it’s damaged can’t heal on its own.
“We don’t have many options for these patients, unfortunately. Once the meniscus is damaged, pain sets in and can ultimately lead to arthritis and the need for knee replacement surgery,” said Dr. Christopher Kaeding, the surgeon who implanted the device and executive director of OSU Sports Medicine.
“If this implant works as well as we think it will, it fills a gap in our treatment spectrum for those with injuries to their meniscus,” said Kaeding.
Currently about 720,000 patients a year undergo knee replacement surgery, but that number is expected to swell to more than 3.5 million cases by 2030, an increase of nearly 400 percent.
“We’re hoping this implant can not only alleviate the pain in these patients but help them avoid, or at least delay, a knee replacement procedure,” said Dr. Kaeding.
Drake Ross has always been committed to staying fit. He’s an avid runner and student of martial arts.
But over the years, the cartilage between his thigh and shin bones known as the meniscus began to tear and his activity level took a serious hit.
“It kind of dwindled to the point of not running, because I knew I wasn’t going to get better. The meniscus doesn’t repair itself,” said Ross.
He had three procedures to shave off the damaged part of his meniscus and went online to see if there were any other treatment options.
Dr. Kaeding says there aren't many options and usually such an injury will only get worse.
“They’re starting to have pain on that side of the knee, the concern for most orthopedic surgeons is that knee is starting to get Arthritis and the arthritis will progress over time.”
So Dr. Kaeding said some patients in European studies have found this new implant conforms to the body.
"Actually, with time, they’ve noticed it will aplastic and deform and actually custom fit that particular knee.”
The device will be implanted at seven different sites around the U.S. and doctors will follow the patients for several months to chart their mobility and level of pain.
They think the device will help millions of middle age patients who are too old for meniscus repair but too young for knee replacement.
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1z5eZGw
