The adoption of this cell-based technology (Denovo NT) has transformed the cartilage world. Based upon presentations at meetings, my own experience, and a preview of some articles about to appear in the medical literature, there is general concensus that this is an effective and safe product; this appears to be true for at least one [...]
The volleyball player (pink shirt) is 2 years after ACI Cartilage transplant. Media Gallery→
Welcome.
Cartilage & Your Joints
The material coating our joints, bright white and elastic, only a few millimeters thick, is called articular cartilage. The cartilage we are born with does not normally renew itself if, and when it is damaged, the eventual loss of cartilage, if it spreads severely enough, results in a loss of the cushion supporting the joint—this is defined as arthritis. Patients with loss of cartilage commonly lose the ability to run, to play sports, to squat down, and to take steps the way they used to. They are in pain. The loss of mobility often results in weight gain, and this further damages the joints in a vicious cycle.
The purpose of this web site is to educate people about what is possible today in cartilage repair, including some techniques that have long-term follow-up and some that are too new to be considered well proven. The field is exploding with new ideas, including ideas based upon stem cells and ideas based upon novel medical devices. Many companies are hard at work trying to push the field forward. There have been great strides by some companies outside the U.S. , and some of these therapies await FDA approval. Every effort will be made to clarify the status and availability of these options.
Recent News Updates
Artthroscopic insertion of Denovo NT
Stem Cell Claims
Forthcoming Lectures
PRP Injections for the Hip Joint/Osteoarthritis
Fortchoming Cartilage Talks with Dr. Marcus
Dr. Marcus in POPULAR MECHANICS
Dr. Marcus and Team Report New Technique for Cartilage Repair
Dr. Marcus selected for Talk of the Town Award
Forthcoming Seminars
Research Journal Updates
Over 6000 Denovo NT Procedures
Cells or No Cells, That is the Question
This week I performed a Denovo NT (live cells) and a Chondrofix (no cells) in two different patients. We went with the Chondrofix due to immediate weight bearing, i.e. crutches for only a few days, and this was the patient’s decision. My Chondrofix implants are looking just fine at 2 years now, but as readers [...]
Science Translational Medicine Research Article
Our team worked for many years to invent this medical device and then perform experiments in the lab, on animals and then finally a human clinical trial to prove efficacy and safety. It worked! One way to repair cartilage is to stimulate marrow elements (“stem cells”) and cap the defect with a gel, which acts [...]
Three year Data on Denovo NT
I am now at about 40 cases and 40 months (on the first case) of Denovo NT implantation. The first patient keeps in touch and is the skier video on the home page of this site. She continues to do great, is without any symptoms whatsoever, and after a couple of years of heavy hiking [...]
Stem Cells and Cartilage Repair; the Product we Need
In the latest edition of the ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) newsletter (winter 2012) there are no fewer than 21 papers on the use of mesenchymal stem cells for some aspect of cartilage repair. This level of interest mirrors the popularity of stem cells in the news, and the number of patients who are doing [...]
Stem Cells: the Good and the Bad
Whenever a new potential therapy is in the process of development- and most especially when it is picked up by the media- many patients, including the most desperate ones, seize the opportunity to demand that new, and essentially unproven, potential treatment. Without taking sides, this occurs with cancer treatment all the time. Some people will [...]
Nobel Prizes for Stem Cell Discoveries
The recent Nobel prize awarded for stem cell research was a good choice. The prize is split evenly between a British researcher, (Gurdon) best known for Dolly the sheep (cloning) and a Japanese researcher (Yamanaka) who discovered how to induce stem cells from ordinary skin cells. It is the latter achievement that should not escape [...]
Denovo NT; One Stage Cartilage repair 2012
At this point with almost (3) years of experience using Denovo NT it is clear that most of my patients are choosing this technique over other available methods of cartilage repair. This is true even for those who, on the opposite knee, have had a successful repair using the two-stage ACI technique. Patients in my [...]
New Regenerative Medicine Facility
I am now pleased to be able to offer patients a new facility that combines the latest tools in ultrasound imaging technology with the latest developments in regenerative medicine. My aim is to have both the most effective equipment and also the most congenial atmosphere for the non-surgical treatment of joint disease and tendinitis. To [...]
DenovoNT Ankle Results at 13 months
DENOVO NT ANKLE RESULTS AT 13 MONTHS My experience with foot and ankle surgery for cartilage repair is limited and certainly not comparable to the large number of cases I have performed in the knee. The demand for cartilage repair of the talus, the main bone supporting the ankle, is large and growing. It [...]