Orthobiologic augmentation of achilles tendinitis and tendon repairs
Orthobiologics is a rapidly growing field within orthopedics as a specialty but has become particularly ubiquitous within foot and ankle surgery. When addressing Achilles tendon pathology specifically, the use of orthobiologics becomes abundantly useful due to the spectrum of diseases and potential treatments. This variability allows for multiple points of intervention and potential applications of adjuncts to assist in the natural healing process when utilizing both nonoperative and operative management. Early investigations have sought to characterize the ideal use of such products as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and concentrated bone marrow aspirate (CBMA), as well as the application of entire biologic tissues, with mixed results to this point but presenting an opportunity for countless future investigations.
