Abhishek Kannan, MD, of Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, is the first surgeon in the state to use an orthopedic implant using a natural compound found in coral.
Four things to know:
1. The implant is made of calcium carbonate derived from coral and is designed to heal cartilage injuries, according to a Nov. 18 news release shared with Becker's. The biocompatible material acts as a scaffold and can promote matural regrowth of cartilage and underlying bone.
2. Dr. Kannan performed the debut procedure for a patient with chronic knee pain.
3. The procedure is minimally invasive, and the implant is absorbed into the bone. Patients can return to full activity about six months after surgery.
4. "We have many younger patients who present with acute or chronic pain from cartilage damage, which is usually the result of previous injuries," Dr. Kannan said in the release. "This gives us a new tool to treat isolated cartilage defects with minimally invasive outpatient surgery and faster recovery time. Early results are promising, but we will continue to follow the data and report our patient outcomes as longer-term studies are ongoing."