AANA Fellowship Education - Biologics: Separating Fact from Fiction-Biologics: Separating Fact from Fiction

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The inaugural ANNA Fellowship Education Series webinar launches a lecture series designed to supplement sports medicine fellowship training with high-yield topics and internationally recognized faculty. Adam Yankee (Rush) outlines logistics (muted participants, recorded session, questions via chat) and introduces the first webinar: “Biologics: Separating Fact from Fiction,” featuring Jason Dragoo (Colorado), Jack Farr (Indianapolis), and Rachel Frank (Colorado).<br /><br />Dragoo reviews platelet-rich plasma (PRP), emphasizing there is no single “PRP”—outcomes depend on formulation. Leukocyte-poor PRP is more anti-inflammatory and best supported for knee osteoarthritis with inflammatory features, while leukocyte-rich PRP is better supported for certain tendinopathies, especially lateral epicondylitis. He notes limited/negative evidence for PRP in rotator cuff repair, acute muscle injury, and patellar tendinopathy, and highlights emerging concepts like A2M-enriched PRP and IL-1 receptor antagonist preparations. He also presents early work suggesting platelet-poor plasma may aid muscle healing more than PRP, and reviews PRP’s uncertain role in meniscus repair augmentation.<br /><br />Frank covers “stem cells”/MSCs, focusing on bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC), clarifying terminology and FDA constraints (minimal manipulation/homologous use vs. investigational products). She stresses expectation management, variability in harvesting/processing, and mixed clinical evidence, with some promise as augmentation (e.g., rotator cuff repair) and in cartilage surgery.<br /><br />Farr summarizes placental/amniotic products, stressing product heterogeneity and limited human evidence. Early studies suggest safety and possible benefit in knee OA and tendon conditions, but stronger randomized trials are needed; regulatory changes may reduce market availability.<br /><br />The panel discusses insurance coverage, clinical algorithms (steroid/HA/PRP; PRP for tennis elbow), placebo effects of saline injections, and a complex patellofemoral cartilage/bone case illustrating combined mechanical and biologic decision-making.

Keywords

ANNA Fellowship Education Series

sports medicine fellowship webinar

biologics in orthopedics

platelet-rich plasma PRP

leukocyte-poor vs leukocyte-rich PRP

knee osteoarthritis PRP evidence

lateral epicondylitis tennis elbow PRP

mesenchymal stem cells MSC

bone marrow aspirate concentrate BMAC

amniotic placental biologic products

FDA regulation minimal manipulation homologous use