The Sports Docs Podcast
Sports medicine is a constantly evolving field, with hundreds of new articles published each month on the topic. This ever-growing wealth of information can make it challenging to stay updated on the newest approaches and techniques, and to know which data should actually change your practice. Join orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Catherine Logan and Dr. Ashley Bassett, as they chat about the most recent developments in sports medicine and dissect through all the noise.
On each episode of The Sports Docs podcast, the hosts will tackle a specific injury – from ACL tears to shoulder instability – and review the top research from various high-impact journals that month, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Sports Health, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and more. The Sports Docs will also be joined by experts in the field of sports medicine – orthopedic surgeons, nonoperative sports medicine specialists, athletes, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others – to provide a fresh and well-rounded perspective based on their unique experiences.
The Sports Docs – Dr. Logan & Dr. Bassett – are friends & former co-residents from the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, who went onto esteemed sports medicine fellowships at The Steadman Clinic and The Rothman Institute, respectively. Dr. Logan practices in Denver, CO, and serves as Team Physician for Men's USA Lacrosse & as a Team Physician for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Dr. Bassett is the director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey and practices across northern NJ, primarily in Morris and Sussex Counties.
Together, they will bring monthly conversations on how to care for athletes of all ages and levels of play, with a healthy mix of cutting-edge science and real-world application.
The Sports Docs Podcast
171: Next-Gen Knees: Modern Cartilage Restoration
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Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference
🎧 Episode Summary
In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with cartilage restoration expert Dr. Travis Maak to discuss the modern surgical management of knee cartilage defects.
The conversation focuses on diagnostic workup, surgical decision-making, and cutting-edge cartilage restoration techniques, including Autocart, BioCartilage, and Cartiform.
Diagnostic Imaging - MRI is critical for:
- Defect size and depth
- Subchondral bone integrity and edema
- Concomitant meniscal and ligament pathology
Surgical Decision-Making
- Patient age & activity level
- Lesion size, location, & containment
- Subchondral bone involvement
- Prior surgical history
Autocart (Autologous Minced Cartilage)
Single-stage autograft cartilage restoration technique
Uses patient’s own cartilage with PRP or BMAC
Key advantages:
- Preserves native chondrocytes & extracellular matrix
- Avoids staged procedures
Ideal for small-to-medium contained lesions
Outcomes:
- Significant improvements in pain & function at ~5 years
- ~75% achieve clinically meaningful outcomes
- Low reoperation rates
BioCartilage
Micronized cartilage extracellular matrix allograft scaffold
Used in combination with microfracture and biologics (PRP/BMAC)
Functions as a biologic bridge to enhance cartilage repair
Best for:
- Small-to-medium, contained, full-thickness defects
- Well-aligned, stable knees
Outcomes:
- Improved pain and function at 2 years
- Better repair tissue quality compared to microfracture alone
Cartiform
Cryopreserved osteochondral allograft with viable chondrocytes
Maintains native cartilage architecture
Indicated for:
- Larger lesions (>2 cm²)
- Defects with subchondral bone involvement
Advantages:
- Single-stage procedure
- Conforms to irregular defects
Key Takeaways
- Cartilage restoration success depends on correcting biomechanics first
- Procedure selection should be lesion-specific and patient-specific
- Autocart offers a promising autograft solution with strong midterm data
- BioCartilage fills the gap between microfracture and larger restoration procedures
- Cartiform is a valuable option for larger defects and requires careful patient selection
Featured Guest
Dr. Travis Maak – University of Utah, Head Team Physician for the Utah Jazz, cartilage restoration and joint preservation specialist
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