By Corie Lok Office of Research J oint cartilage repairs are taking a step ahead with a novel process that grafts healthy cartilage on to a joint with damaged or missing cartilage. Joint injury, where cartilage is torn and destroyed, is a common problem caused mostly by trauma such as sporting or car accidents, says Hurtig, a large-animal surgeon who's been studying the use of MA in racehorses, dogs and sheep.
Cartilage provides cushioning between bones, and without it, pain and swelling can result.
If left untreated, cartilage injury can lead to arthritis later in life. The most common treatments are anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and surgical removal of debris from the joint. But these methods don't repair cartilage damage like MA does, says Hurtig. Although MA is still in the development stages and not yet commonly used in humans, it's becoming more popular. It boasts improvements over other grafting techniques because it's a one-step process.