Cartilage-Repair Innovation at a Standstill: Methodologic and Regulatory Pathways to Breaking Free
Abstract:
Articular cartilage defects strongly predispose patients to developing early joint degeneration and osteoarthritis, but for more than 15 years, no new cartilage-repair technologies that we know of have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many studies examining novel approaches to cartilage repair, including cell, tissue, or matrix-based techniques, have shown great promise, but completing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to establish safety and efficacy has been challenging, providing a major barrier to bringing these innovations into clinical use. In this article, we review reasons that surgical innovations are not well-suited for testing through RCTs. We also discuss how analytical methods for reducing bias, such as propensity scoring, make prospective observational studies a potentially viable alternative for testing the safety and efficacy of cartilage-repair and other novel therapies, offering the real possibility of therapeutic innovation.
Source: JBJS - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Lyman, S., Nakamura, N., Cole, B. J., Erggelet, C., Gomoll, A. H., Farr, J. Tags: Basic Science The Orthopaedic Forum Source Type: research
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