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
175: Orthobiologics in Practice: Bone Marrow Concentrate, the ANGEL System, and the Vortex Needle
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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 orthobiologics expert Dr. Spencer Stein to discuss the real-world application of bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) in sports medicine.
The conversation focuses on how to effectively integrate orthobiologics into clinical and surgical practice, with a deep dive into the ANGEL System and Vortex Needle, emphasizing consistency, technique, and appropriate patient selection.
Where BMAC Fits in Practice
Common applications:
- Cartilage restoration procedures
- Tendon and ligament pathology
- Nonunions and osteotomies
- Osteochondral and revision cases
Why Bone Marrow Concentrate?
Delivers:
- Progenitor cells
- Growth factors
- Cytokines
Particularly useful in:
- Borderline surgical candidates
- Revision cases
- Biologically compromised environments
The ANGEL System
Closed, automated centrifuge system
Allows customization of hematocrit and final product
Benefits:
- Consistency and reproducibility
- Ability to “dial in” biologic composition
- Reduced variability in outcomes
The Vortex Needle
Designed for controlled, low-volume aspiration
Advantages:
- Minimizes peripheral blood dilution
- Improves cell concentration and biologic quality
- More targeted aspiration technique
Closed-tip design:
- Better consistency
- Higher quality aspirate
Pearls:
- Focus on proper aspiration technique
- Use small-volume, targeted draws
- Integrate BMAC early in surgical workflow
- Train your team for efficiency
Pitfalls:
- Poor aspirate technique
- Overpromising outcomes to patients
- Treating biologics as a cure-all
Future of Orthobiologics
Moving toward:
- Indication-specific protocols
- Standardized biologic formulations
- More targeted applications by tissue type
Featured Guest
Dr. Spencer Stein – NYU Grossman School of Medicine, sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopy and joint preservation
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Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026
Our Hosts:
Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com