ICRS 2006 San Diego

 ICRS San Diego 2006 Overview

• The Globalization and Collaboration on 5 continents in the field of cartilage repair
• The Multidisciplinary collaboration with Academia, Industry, Scientists and  Clinicians
• The evolution and application of chondrocytes, stem cells, genetic engineering, growth factors, scaffolds, arthroscopic techniques, nutrition, rehabilitation and generational cartilage surface restoration and more!

There were 890 Attendees from 40 countries and 5 Continents.

• There are limited numbers of randomized control studies to authoritative conclusions
• It is difficult to see differences in efficacy when considering all methods of repair
• There are differences in safety contrasting  generation l to generation ll
• The long term still is an unanswered question for most techniques
• There is a real need to have well designed and uniform ICRS methodological study( ICRS package) to assess similarities and differences between old and new technologies

• There is consensus that they don’t heal.
• The course and timing of degeneration remains dependent multiple variables and factors
• We don’t know why they hurt
• Radiofrequency energy  is controversial with little evidence of  clinical or histological improvements

• they don’t heal
• become Osteoarthritis over time
• local, synovial, regional and systemic environment  may foster degeneration rather than regeneration

• Result in Osteoarthritis as dependent and independent Risk Factors
• BMI and obesity female, Osteoarthritis and ,mal-alignment are additive risk factors
• Surgery doesn’t eliminate the Osteoarthritis potential
• ACL and prevention and weight programs are opportunity for Chondroprevention and chondroprotection

• Exciting New technology (DGEMERIC, T2 Mapping) for assessing qualitative cartilage injury and repair
• Markers are potential opportunities to follow regenerative and degenerative processes

• Potential new applications for Disease Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs (DMOADs )
• Promising opportunities in additon to viscosupplementation to reduce pain, impact mediators and  for chondroprotection

• Obesity major factor contributing to Osteoarthritis
• Role and future potential for nutraceuticals, and other nutritional interventions such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate, Flavinoids and fish oils for Chondroprevention and chondroprotection.

• Pioneering work in this area of synovial modulation
• Promising opportunities to reduce pain, impact cytokines and chondroprotection.
• Await studies showing similarities and differences of old and new technologies

• Specificity of patient characteristics ( profiling)  can lead to optimal outcomes
• Timing of intervention is an important variable as duration of symptoms is inversely correlated with optimal results

• Exciting new technology cells, scaffolds, genetic engineering and combinations that can improve safety and efficacy parameter
• Arthroscopically executed procedures
• Await well designed FDA study to assess similarities and differences of old and new technologies in comparison to other options

• Exciting factors controlling the processes of regeneration, degeneration and the long term natural course
• Potential pivotal role as a therapeutic intervention to facilitate bone healing and fusion and regrowth of vertebral discs
• Further study to assess similarities and differences of old and new technologies

• Essential component to care of the patient with articular cartilage disorders
• Details are critical with respect to timing and progressions
• Treat the whole patient with consideration of the joint and levels of fitness and function.