Clinically Relevant Strategies for Treating Cartilage and Meniscal Pathology: Editorial Comment

Excerpt

Millions of surgeries are performed every year in attempts to treat defects of articular cartilage or damaged or diseased menisci. While many treatment options are currently available to surgeons, none consistently affords long-term preservation of fully functional tissues or prevents the development and progression of osteoarthritis. As such, there is an urgent need for strategies that can restore the architecture, geometry, physiology, and material properties of deficient articular tissues such that full joint function is realized and maintained in the long term. Biologic strategies using the principles of tissue engineering appear to hold the most promise for accomplishing these goals. In pursuit of regeneration of specific tissues, it is vital to remember the “joint is an organ” and all tissues and related pathology must be considered when trying to develop clinically relevant procedures. Therefore, we have assembled a series of articles that explore both meniscal and articular cartilage regenerative strategies.

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