Biologic Strategies for Intra-articular Treatment and Cartilage Repair

Primary cartilage disease such as osteoarthritis (OA) or secondary degenerative disease to a localized cartilage defect or a soft tissue injury is difficult to treat. Osteoarthritis is associated to important morbidity in human patients and is self-limiting for equine sport activities. Many surgical and medical treatments are described with the common goal of improving joint function and stop the disease progression. Biologic therapeutic strategies are under evaluation and may be promising because they are based on the organism natural capacity to heal and are supposed to have a regenerative potential. In the last decades, these treatments have gained popularity in human and veterinary orthopedics but there is still few clinical prove of efficacy. This review of literature summarizes research and clinical evidence of the so-called blood- and cell-derived therapies, providing scientific evidence and understanding about their mechanisms.