Two important factors are necessary for tissue to heal: local or distant cells must be present to synthesize new tissue and clean up necrotic material, and a vascular supply must be available. The vascular supply can supply some of the above cells and also carry to the area bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, chemotactic, mitogenic and cytotactic factors.1 Unfortunately, cartilage is avascular, and the necessary inflammatory and repair products that healing depends upon are not readily available.
Mankin2 states that articular cartilage matrix may contain substances that inhibit vascular and macrophage invasion and clot formation which are necessary for healing. Chondrocytes, the basic cell of cartilage which maintains and synthesizes the matrix, are unable to migrate to the injury site from adjacent healthy cartilage because they are "literally imprisoned in a mesh of collagen and proteoglycan, unable to migrate to the injury site from adjacent healthy cartilage."1
It was thought that if the cartilage injury penetrated the subchondral plate there would be a vascular supply from the bone. While this is true and a fibrin clot forms allowing a healing response with the appearance of chondrocytes and the type II collagen (which makes up to 95% of the collagen in hyaline cartilage), the new collagen formation over time does not properly combine with the residual cartilage.3
It is known that many people injure the articular surface of their cartilage, and that the joint returns to an asymptomatic state after the transient synovitis subsides. Whether a cartilage lesion degenerates further or not depends on "the size and depth of the lesion, the integrity of the surrounding articular surface, the age and weight of the patient, associated meniscal and ligamentous lesions, and a variety of other mechanical and biomechanical factors."1
It is known that certain factors definitely influence cartilage healing. In a horse model, small defects (<3 mm) completely healed.4 Continuous passive motion increased the ability of fullþthickness defects to heal, producing a tissue that closely resembled hyaline cartilage5 and cartilage chondrocytes from skeletally immature animal donors show a greater ability to proliferate and synthesize larger proteoglycan molecules.6
Scientists have attempted to repair cartilage by adding cells capable of chondrogenesis and by increasing access to the vascular system. Cells have been transplanted from other animals (allografts) and from the individual (autografts). Tissues other than articular cartilage such as rib perichondrial cells and periosteal grafts capable of chondrogenesis have been attempted. Harvested mesenchymal stem cells have been attempted with some success, although they are in short supply in the older patient.
A relatively new method of transplantation is a tissue engineering method where synthetic materials are filled with the local cell population, grown in vitro and implanted into the patient. In 1994, Brittberg et al.7 used carbon fiber pads in patients with early osteoarthrosis of the knee and reported good to excellent results after a four-year followup. Brittberg8 stated that "whether a defect filled with repair tissue is able to protect the surrounding joint surface from degeneration remains to be proven."
While progress has been shown, Newman1 states that while there are early reports of good results with new techniques, later reports of failures occur after longer investigation. Unfortunately, surgeons are often premature in adopting a new surgical technique and later realize that "nothing ruins good results like followup."9
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
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Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
