On a continuing basis I see patients who come to me for “stem cell therapy” based upon their readings in the popular press or on the internet. Even as we sit on the cusp of this new concept in medicine- that of using stem cells to regenerate body parts- it is also important to realize [...]
The (second) skier is 18 months after a Denovo NT implant. Media Gallery→
Welcome.
Cartilage & Your Joints
The material coating our joints, bright white and elastic, only a few millimeters thick, is called articular cartilage. The cartilage we are born with does not normally renew itself if, and when it is damaged, the eventual loss of cartilage, if it spreads severely enough, results in a loss of the cushion supporting the joint—this is defined as arthritis. Patients with loss of cartilage commonly lose the ability to run, to play sports, to squat down, and to take steps the way they used to. They are in pain. The loss of mobility often results in weight gain, and this further damages the joints in a vicious cycle.
The purpose of this web site is to educate people about what is possible today in cartilage repair, including some techniques that have long-term follow-up and some that are too new to be considered well proven. The field is exploding with new ideas, including ideas based upon stem cells and ideas based upon novel medical devices. Many companies are hard at work trying to push the field forward. There have been great strides by some companies outside the U.S. , and some of these therapies await FDA approval. Every effort will be made to clarify the status and availability of these options.
Recent News Updates
Dr. Marcus to lecture at the Andrews-Paulos Research Institute Dec 15
Dr. Marcus to have e clinical letter published in SCIENCE Magazine
Dr. Marcus participates in Global Venture Course for Johns Hopkins
Upcoming Cartilage Seminars
Dr. Marcus to Lecture at George Mason University
Dr. Marcus to teach at Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Marcus lectures at Spartanburg Hospital on PRP
Dr. Marcus Performs First Chondrofix Implant on East Coast
Chondrofix
Research Journal Updates
Stem Cells and Cartilage Repair
Platelet Rich Plasma And Arthritis
The use of PRP for “regenerative” purposes has been well documented elsewhere for as diverse purposes as cosmesis, hair growth, tendinopathy, heart disease and many other health problems. Scientific evidence in well controlled studies for improved outcomes has yet to be produced for most of these issues. One area in which we will soon [...]
A Holiday Denovo NT Story
In scientific publications the use of an anecdote is frowned upon in favor of comparing groups of similar patients with statistic methods. But this is more of a blog, not a science publication, so if you will put this in proper context I would like to share with you the story of a young woman [...]
Second Look Arthroscopy of the Chondrofix Implant
Chondrofix looking good at 5 months
Early Postoperative Followup of Chondrofix Implants
Early Post Op followup of Chondrofix shows good restoration of chondral surface.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and gene expression
Please see previous notes on this web site regarding PRP. In the August edition of the Journal of Sports Medicine( ) we now have gene expression evidence of PRP effects for patients with osteoarthritis. What this may mean is that the potential activity of PRP is, in fact, real. PRP is a medley of bioactive [...]
Denovo NT: The first Twenty
Denovo NT: The first Twenty This is not a scientific article but the time is right for looking at my experience the last 2 years with Denovo NT. Twenty cases are between 4 months and two years out from surgery. The areas treated have all been either knee or ankle, and the knee has [...]
Publication on Denovo NT
There is an ongoing clinical study of 25 patients with Denovo NT, and the two year results are in on the first four patients. (Cartilage, online edition, print edition pending:pages 1-8, 2011 Farr, J. & Yao, J: Chondral Defect Repair with Particulated Juvenile Cartilage Allograft) Pain scores are going down, and activity scores have gone [...]
Personalized Cartilage Medicine
In part due to this web site I receive numerous inquiries about cartilage repair in unique circumstances- for example, various genetic diseases. The end result of many of these diseases emulates osteoarthritis in terms of the X-ray appearance, but it is obvious that the causal factors may be different. Recently this was the case with [...]
Personalized Cartilage Repair
In part due to this web site I receive numerous inquiries about cartilage repair in unique circumstances- for example, various genetic diseases. The end result of many of these diseases emulates osteoarthritis in terms of the X-ray appearance, but it is obvious that the causal factors may be different. Recently this was the case with [...]