New research in Cardiff to help knee surgery patients
People who need knee surgery following an accident or joint injury could be significantly helped by research to be carried out by scientists in Cardiff.
Researchers at the School of Biosciences at the University of Cardiff aim to
implant cartilage stem cells into the site of the injury to help the healing process and repair damage.
The new implanted cartilage could help regenerate the damaged cartilage, which would enable surgeons to repair knee injuries more effectively. In the long term this could reduce the risk of future surgery, and the development of osteoarthritis.
Dr Sam Webster, a postdoctoral research associate, has been awarded a two-year grant of nearly £90,000 by the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) to carry out the lab-based research.
Osteoarthritis, which affects around two million people in the UK, is caused when cartilage in the joint wears away, leaving the bones to rub together, leading to pain and stiffness. Sports injuries and accidents which damage the knee are a major risk factor for developing the condition in later life.
"When a patient has a cartilage knee injury, the surgeon uses keyhole surgery called arthroscopy to inspect the damage, and cuts and washes any loose bits of damaged surface cartilage out of the joint," explained Dr Webster. "However, recent research has shown that this might not work. We have also recently discovered that the cartilage surface could be the site of stem cells – cells that could make new cartilage cells and be vital for repair.
"In our research we plan to discover whether we can add cartilage stem cells back to the shallow cartilage wound, and whether they stick and make new cartilage."
Two other Cardiff scientists have also been awarded grants from arc for research into arthritis totalling £100,000; Dr Jan Bondeson, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Wales's department of rheumatology, and Professor Vic Duance from the University of Cardiff's school of biosciences.
