Vanderbilt Orthopaedics has formed the Vanderbilt Center for Cartilage Repair and Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment, a center dedicated to treating cartilage disorders.

 

The Cartilage Center is one of the few clinics in the nation dedicated to cartilage repair, and it is the first in the world to focus on osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a rare and misunderstood condition in which a fragment of bone and cartilage separates causing pain, swelling and mechanical issues. It occurs most commonly in the knee, but is also found in the ankle, hip and elbow.

 

In addition to osteochondritis dissecans treatment, the Cartilage Center will offer treatment for focal cartilage problems with procedures including:

 

The Cartilage Center, formed within the Sports Medicine division, is directed by James Carey, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. In addition to patient care, the center will be involved in research and education.

 

“Establishing this cartilage center will facilitate collaboration with the national leaders in cartilage research,” said Herbert Schwartz, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. “This new center will serve as an intellectual common space that welcomes interdisciplinary research, linking clinical and basic science.”

 

In 2008, Carey became a founding member of the Osteochondritis Dissecans Study Group of North America, which is dedicated to conducting high quality, multi-center trials involving patients with osteochondritis dissecans. Carey is also collaborating with Jonathan Schoenecker, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, researching the basic science of wound healing to develop and test novel treatments for cartilage disorders.

 

Carey also served as a work group member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Guideline Development Taskforce for the Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans. He was one of six orthopaedic surgeons selected to serve on this national committee. The Vanderbilt Cartilage Center will build upon that work by developing evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of various cartilage disorders.

 

“Faculty of the Cartilage Center will be dedicated leaders in developing these evidence-based guidelines,” said Kurt Spindler, M.D., director of Vanderbilt Sports Medicine. “We will also teach the unique cartilage repair skill set to interested residents and fellows.”

 

“We expect the Cartilage Center to attract patients on a national and international level,” said Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “The Center’s emphasis on integrating the best available evidence into the shared-decision-making process will allow for the formulation of optimal personalized treatment plans, bringing our patients much better outcomes.”

 

Carey received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and his Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Carey’s patient satisfaction scores rank in the top 5 percent in the nation. Each year, 10 to 20 percent of his operative cases are elite athletes competing at the NCAA Division I or professional level.

 

“Cartilage injuries can be frustrating problems for people, especially for the teens and athletes that get them most often,” Carey said. “In the knee, healthy cartilage is about one thousand times more slippery than ice on ice which allows for the bones to glide past each other. Without this layer of cartilage, the bones rub against each other resulting in arthritis if left untreated. Damaged cartilage generally does not grow back on its own, so restoring this surface with the optimal treatment is very important. Patients have a higher chance of success if they undergo the proper treatment the first time.”

 

The Cartilage Center is located at ­­­­the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute on Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s main campus. Clinic appointments can be scheduled by calling 615-343-9430. Visit www.vanderbiltorthopaedics.com for more information.