First Ever Plastic Meniscus Implanted In The U.S.

FDA trial will see if artificial cartilage can protect against arthritis, knee replacements

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Dr. Christopher Kaeding shows the first plastic cartilage device implanted in a patient`s knee in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2015 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The device is used to replace a damaged meniscus located between the thigh and shin bones. See how it works and how many patients this experimental device could potentially help here: bit.ly/1EwvNLW


(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – For the first time in the U.S., surgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have implanted a plastic device designed to help patients with injured or deteriorating meniscus cartilage.  The meniscus is located between the thigh and shin bones and once it’s damaged can’t heal on its own.

“We don’t have many options for these patients, unfortunately.  Once the meniscus is damaged, pain sets in and can ultimately lead to arthritis and the need for knee replacement surgery,” said Dr. Christopher Kaeding, the surgeon who implanted the device and executive director of OSU Sports Medicine.  “If this implant works as well as we think it will, it fills a gap in our treatment spectrum for those with injuries to their meniscus,” said Kaeding.

Currently about 720,000 patients a year undergo knee replacement surgery, but that number is expected to swell to more than 3.5 million cases by 2030, an increase of nearly 400 percent.

“We’re hoping this implant can not only alleviate the pain in these patients but help them avoid, or at least delay, a knee replacement procedure,” said Kaeding.

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Dr. Christopher Kaeding holds up a plastic cartilage implant in an operating room at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. On Jan. 21, 2015, Kaeding became the first U.S. surgeon to implant the device into a patient who had suffered for years from a damaged meniscus, the cartilage located between your thigh and shin bones. See why millions are hoping this new device offers a desperately needed new treatment option for knee pain: bit.ly/1EwvNLW

Dr. Christopher Kaeding shows the first plastic cartilage device implanted in a patient`s knee in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2015 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The device is used to replace a damaged meniscus located between the thigh and shin bones. See how it works and how many patients this experimental device could potentially help here: bit.ly/1EwvNLW

Drake Ross, 54, practices martial arts at his home in Columbus, Ohio. Years of running and exercise left Ross` meniscus cartilage damaged and his knees in almost constant pain. On Jan. 21, 2015, Ross became the first patient in the U.S. to get an experimental plastic implant to replace his injured meniscus, which is located between the thigh and shin bone. Go into the operating room at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as it happens and see how it could help Ross and millions of others with bad knees: bit.ly/1EwvNLW

Because of persistent knee injuries Drake Ross, 54, of Columbus Ohio, now has to use elliptical machines like this one to get cardiovascular exercise. The cartilage between Ross`s thigh and shin bones is deteriorating and short of a knee replacement there was little doctors could do. So on Jan. 21, 2015, Ross volunteered to become the first patient in the U.S. to have an experimental plastic meniscus implanted in his knee at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Click here to see how it might help millions of patients: bit.ly/1EwvNLW

Dr. Christopher Kaeding checks a monitor during a historic surgery Jan. 21, 2015 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Kaeding became the first U.S. surgeon to implant a plastic cartilage into the knee of a patient. The device is designed to replace injured portions of the meniscus, which acts as a buffer between your thigh and shin bones. See how the device works and why millions may benefit from it: bit.ly/1EwvNLW

Drake Ross does research on treatments for knee pain at his home in Columbus, Ohio. On Jan. 21, 2015, Ross became the first patient in the U.S. to get a plastic device implanted in his knee to take the place of damaged meniscus cartilage, located between the thigh and shin bones. Surgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center implanted the device. See how it might help millions of patients here: bit.ly/1EwvNLW



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