Cartilage Injury of the Knee: Current Controversies (2021 Annual Meeting)-Cartilage Injury of the Knee: Current Controversies in 2021-Farr

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Aaron provides an insightful overview of current and emerging cartilage repair options, focusing less on specific products and more on the regulatory and clinical thought process. He explains the FDA classifications 351 and 361 concerning allografts, highlighting challenges like expensive and lengthy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and regulatory enforcement, particularly on biologics such as amniotic membrane and fat-based treatments. Despite promising preclinical and limited clinical data, many novel cartilage products face obstacles such as insufficient evidence, poor insurance reimbursement, and high costs, leading to canceled trials and market withdrawals. Dr. Aaron stresses the importance of critically appraising emerging treatments via animal studies, speaking to key opinion leaders, and cautious clinical implementation with rigorous outcome monitoring. He shares experiences with several products, including PJAC and Neocart, underscoring that initial positive results often fade over time. He concludes by advocating thoughtful case-by-case use of new therapies, emphasizing clinical judgment and evidence-based practice amid evolving regulations.

Asset Caption

Dr. Jack Farr II

Keywords

cartilage repair

FDA classifications 351 and 361

randomized controlled trials

biologics regulation

evidence-based clinical practice