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| Future Techniques |
| Biologic tissue engineering is continuing to transfer exciting new approaches from the lab to the clinical arena. It may be possible to use primitive cells from the bone marrow or periosteum (which have the potential to develop into several different types of cells, thus called pluripotential cells or in this case mesenchymal stem cells) and induce them to transform into hyaline cartilage. |
| A variety of growth factors or local hormones may also be developed to create the right “local environment” for hyaline cartilage to grow and remain healthy, or even allow the hyaline cartilage to heal itself. |
| Also in the early testing phase are a variety of patches to directly repair a defect. The biopatches, such a porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) have demonstrated the ability to take on the characteristics of the tissues where implanted elsewhere in the body. |
| Other biopatches may have the predominant purpose of acting as a temporary home for chondrocytes or “pre-chondrocytes”. They may be used to deliver and maintain the cells in proper position until the healing response takes effect. This exciting field will offer many new options which will hopefully lead to opportunities for restoring function by less invasive means. |
