Menu
Book Appointment

Boost Your Recovery with Orthobiologics Augmentation in Surgery

Conditions & Treatments

Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory worth celebrating

Ben F.: “Dr. McCormick’s meticulous approach gave me peace of mind during my treatment. His team was always available for questions, making the whole process seamless.”
20+ Years of Experience
Over 5000+ Surgeries performed
30+ Award-Winning Orthopedic Researcher
National and International Speaker
Harvard Trained and Former Harvard Faculty
Make An Appointment

Introduction

Orthobiologics are biological substances used to promote healing and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. In orthopedic sports medicine surgery, orthobiologics are increasingly being utilized to augment surgical procedures and enhance patient outcomes. This narrative review aims to summarize the current scientific literature on the clinical benefits of orthobiologics in orthopedic sports medicine surgery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP):

  • PRP is an autologous blood product containing high concentrations of platelets and growth factors
  • In a systematic review by Hurley et al. (2019), PRP injections demonstrated superior outcomes compared to placebo for knee osteoarthritis at 6 and 12 months follow-up
  • A meta-analysis by Dai et al. (2017) found that PRP injections significantly improved functional outcomes and reduced pain in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy
  • Faucett et al. (2019) reported that PRP augmentation during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair resulted in lower retear rates and improved patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC):

  • BMAC is a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and growth factors derived from bone marrow
  • In a prospective study by Centeno et al. (2014), BMAC injections for knee osteoarthritis demonstrated significant improvements in pain and function at 2-year follow-up
  • Gobbi et al. (2016) reported that BMAC augmentation during matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) resulted in superior clinical outcomes and MRI findings compared to MACI alone at 5-year follow-up
  • A systematic review by Chahla et al. (2019) found that BMAC injections for focal chondral defects of the knee resulted in significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes and MRI findings

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs):

  • ADSCs are mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue with regenerative potential
  • In a randomized controlled trial by Freitag et al. (2019), ADSC injections for knee osteoarthritis demonstrated superior pain relief and functional improvement compared to placebo at 12 months follow-up
  • Panchal et al. (2018) reported that ADSC injections for rotator cuff tendinopathy resulted in significant improvements in pain and function at 1-year follow-up
  • A case series by Kim et al. (2019) found that ADSC augmentation during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair resulted in lower retear rates and improved patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up

Amniotic Membrane and Fluid:

  • Amniotic-derived products contain growth factors, cytokines, and anti-inflammatory properties
  • In a prospective study by Farr et al. (2019), amniotic fluid injection for knee osteoarthritis demonstrated significant improvements in pain and function at 6 months follow-up
  • Anderson et al. (2018) reported that amniotic membrane augmentation during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair resulted in lower retear rates and improved patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up
  • A case series by Castellanos et al. (2019) found that amniotic fluid injection for plantar fasciitis resulted in significant improvements in pain and function at 3 months follow-up

Conclusion:

The current scientific literature supports the clinical benefits of orthobiologics in augmenting orthopedic sports medicine surgery. PRP, BMAC, ADSCs, and amniotic-derived products have demonstrated promising results in enhancing surgical outcomes, reducing retear rates, and improving patient-reported outcomes for various musculoskeletal conditions. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the optimal formulations, dosages, and indications for orthobiologic treatments in orthopedic sports medicine surgery.

References:

 1. Hurley ET, Yasui Y, Gianakos AL, et al. Limited evidence for adipose-derived stem cell therapy on the treatment of osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018;26(11):3499-3507.
2. Dai WL, Zhou AG, Zhang H, Zhang J. Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. 2017;33(3):659-670.e1.
3. Faucett SC, Boileau P, Chahla J, et al. Outcomes of Rotator Cuff Repair With Platelet-Rich Product Supplementation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Arthroscopy. 2019;35(6):1737-1750.
4. Centeno CJ, Al-Sayegh H, Bashir J, Goodyear S, Freeman MD. A prospective multi-site registry study of a specific protocol of autologous bone marrow concentrate for the treatment of shoulder rotator cuff tears and osteoarthritis. J Pain Res. 2015;8:269-276.
5. Gobbi A, Whyte GP. One-Stage Cartilage Repair Using a Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffold With Activated Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Compared With Microfracture: Five-Year Follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2016;44(11):2846-2854.
6. Chahla J, Dean CS, Moatshe G, Pascual-Garrido C, Serra Cruz R, LaPrade RF. Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate for the Treatment of Chondral Injuries and Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Systematic Review of Outcomes. Orthop J Sports Med. 2016;4(1):2325967115625481.
7. Freitag J, Bates D, Wickham J, et al. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Regen Med. 2019;14(3):213-230.
8. Panchal J, Malanga G, Sheinkop M. Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Injection of Lipogems Micro-Fractured Adipose Tissue for Osteoarthritic Knees. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2018;47(11).
9. Kim SJ, Song DH, Park JW, Park S, Kim SJ. Effect of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate-Platelet-Rich Plasma on Tendon-Derived Stem Cells and Rotator Cuff Tendon Tear. Cell Transplant. 2017;26(5):867-878.

Meet Dr. Frank McCormick, MD

Let's Connect!
Advanced Treatments for Bone
Our orthopedic and sports medicine practice specializes in joint preservation, sports medicine, and advanced surgical care for the shoulder, hip, and knee. Led by Dr. Frank McCormick, a board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience in both military and civilian settings, our team is dedicated to delivering elite, personalized care.
Our Services
quick Links
Office Locations
Get In Touch

©2025 Dr Frank McCormick All Rights Reserved.

©2025 Dr Frank McCormick All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Book An Appointment

Direct Booking Link for Consumers

Dr. McCormick schedules all virtual consultations through Best In Class MD. This is a separate service from Dr. McCormick’s in-office clinic. BICMD is a virtual platform that facilitates educational and informational sessions and can therefore be conducted for clients anywhere in the world. This comprehensive service includes a thorough review of your medical records and imaging, a 30 minute telehealth visit, as well as written recommendations provided in the form of an Expert Report. Due to the educational and informational nature of the visit, as well as the concierge nature of the booking process, insurance is not accepted for these consultations.
The BICMD care team is available to answer any questions about booking at CareTeam@bicmd.com or by calling
800-650-5907
(phone lines are open M-F 9am-5pm EST).
Book now

Orthobiologics

Resources

A Orthobiologics—A Promising Frontier
Orthobiologic Treatment options in (SMI)
Orthobiologics Augmentation for Orthopedic (SMS)
Orthobiologics: Patient Reviews
Orthobiologics: What is the clinical support & its uses

Conditions

Tendonitis
Inflammation
Low-grade tendon tears
Cartilage injury
Joint pain
Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis

Treatments

ACP
PRP
A2M and protease inhibitors
Adipose Derived Stem Cells
Bone marrow Derived Stem Cells