GE, orthopedic society investigate alternative cartilage injury treatments
GE Healthcare is sponsoring a three-year research initiative to investigate alternative treatments for damage to articular cartilage, the soft tissue that covers the ends of bones in joints. The research will be accomplished through a partnership with the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM).
Articular cartilage injuries are common in active people, including athletes.
Thanks to recent developments such as MR, early detection of the injuries has been made easier as has treatment.
"Traditionally, surgeons have had to biopsy cartilage to measure the quality of repair following surgical manipulation," said Hollis G. Potter, MD, of MRI and director of Research in the Department of Radiology and Imaging at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. "MR imaging is now able to potentially act as a surrogate for interventional biopsies."
MRI provides an objective measurement of when good cartilage starts to go bad, without always having to send the patient into surgery or biopsy its structure.
Articular cartilage injuries are common in active people, including athletes.
Thanks to recent developments such as MR, early detection of the injuries has been made easier as has treatment.
"Traditionally, surgeons have had to biopsy cartilage to measure the quality of repair following surgical manipulation," said Hollis G. Potter, MD, of MRI and director of Research in the Department of Radiology and Imaging at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. "MR imaging is now able to potentially act as a surrogate for interventional biopsies."
MRI provides an objective measurement of when good cartilage starts to go bad, without always having to send the patient into surgery or biopsy its structure.