Most knee specialists will have patients try a few different conservative treatments before considering a total knee replacement procedure to address their joint discomfort. Weight loss, exercise and physical therapy are common treatment recommendations, but medical experts are always trying to find new ways to help patients achieve the recovery results they seek without the need for surgery. One such treatment that has gained momentum in recent years is a knee plug.
Knee Plugs For Joint Deterioration
Knee plugs, also known as cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plugs (CC-ROPs) are a synthetic device that may be the perfect complement to a conservative care plan for the right patient. They work similar to another treatment technique called autografting. During a knee autograft, the surgeon harvests cylindrical “plugs” from non-damaged sections of a patient’s knee and implants them into holes that are drilled in the affected area. Over time, these plugs enable bone and cartilage to grow in the damaged area. However, autograft plugs tend to only work for a small portion of patients. Patients over the age of 40 and those with severe joint degeneration are typically not deemed an ideal candidate.
CC-ROPs hope to build on the framework of the knee autograft technique. The artificial plugs are composed of an incredibly strong hydrogel capsule that mimics the natural properties of human cartilage. Similar to an autograft, these CC-ROPs can be inserted into a pre-drilled location in the knee. The specific design of the capsule allows for new bone tissue growth and mimics the function of healthy knee cartilage.
Best of all, these artificial hydrogel plugs suit a much larger patient base. Age or joint deterioration are not nearly as much of a concern as they are for the autograft procedure. This means that these plugs may offer a final line of conservative care before a patient has to make the decision to undergo a total knee replacement.
And while we’re still learning about the efficacy of these synthetic knee plugs, it was just announced that researchers at Texas A&M University secured funding to develop and collect data on CC-ROPs for degenerative knee conditions. We plan to keep a close eye on their findings, because we always want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to offering patients the best type of treatment for their joint conditions.
For now, if you want a more standard course of care for your hip or knee pain, consider connecting with Dr. Botero and his team. We can discuss what type of care would be best for your individual situation and give you the tools you need to overcome your joint pain. If this process proves challenging without more hands-on care, we’re on standby to help in any way we can. Whether that involves a corticosteroid injection or a replacement procedure, we’re confident that we can help reduce pain and restore function in your damaged joint.
For more information about how we’re currently helping patients overcome knee and hip issues, or to talk to a specialist about new or existing discomfort that you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today at (865) 558-4444.
