Osteochondral defects often necessitate knee replacements. New research at Texas A&M aims to develop synthetic cartilage-capped plugs (CC-ROPs) as a less invasive alternative, suitable for a broader range of patients. This technology, supported by a significant grant, promises immediate joint support and long-term integration, with upcoming pre-clinical studies to validate its effectiveness.
A synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plug being implanted into a knee. Credit: Texas A&M Engineering Osteochondral defects (OCDs) can lead to damage in both cartilage and the underlying bone, resulting in chronic pain and impaired joint function. Depending on the severity of the damage, affected individuals may require surgical intervention, with the most comprehensive option being a total knee replacement—a procedure that over 800,000 Americans receive annually.
Dr. Melissa Grunlan, professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University , received a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, a suborganization of the National Institutes of Health , to develop synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plugs (CC-ROPs) — a potential off-the-shelf surgical device to treat OCDs and avoid total knee replacement. “Chronic knee pain and disability are caused by cartilage loss and OCDs stemming from arthritis, including osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis causing individuals pain that limi.