Review of Shoulder Cartilage Treatment

Learn more about shoulder cartilage treatment and schedule a consultation with Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel

Introduction to Shoulder Cartilage Treatment

Glenohumeral cartilage defects in the young patient are challenging clinical problems given the longer life expectancy after surgery of these patients and the greater demands their more vigorous lifestyles place on their shoulders. Numerous etiologies can lead to glenohumeral cartilage disease: trauma, instability, inflammatory arthridites, postinfectious degeneration, foreign body reaction, and glenohumeral chondrolysis.

The initial treatment of glenohumeral cartilage disease is always nonsurgical, but when measures are needed beyond conservative management, there are a variety of treatment options available, including palliative, reparative, restorative, and reconstructive techniques for cartilage defects in the shoulder.

This study is one of a series from this institution that analyzes new bioconstructs and collagen matrices to augment cartilage in shoulder surgery. In this study, we evaluate whether autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC), which involves using a collagen I/III matrix with microfracture, can promote the formation of tissue with similar architecture to native cartilage by organizing adhesion, migration, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to chondrocytes.

In order to understand the potential applications of this basic science research, we have employed a framework of clinical needs, which includes palliative, reparative, restorative, and reconstructive treatments, to guide a clinical management algorithm. Thus, we report on a novel treatment method and discuss the background framework into which it and other pieces are being fitted to improve care of shoulder disorders.