The Biologics Approach

The practice of medicine depends on the fundamental ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat the problem properly to optimize outcomes. Diagnosing an injury by performing a thorough history and physical exam, detailed interpretation of diagnostic imaging (x-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound), understanding biomechanics, and correlating the information is paramount to creating a multidisciplinary plan of care. Knowing when to use a non-surgical approach and when to consider surgery is key. With certain injuries, there may have to be a compromise as a complete resolution may not be available. This is all part of the evaluation, discussion, and plan of care.

Medical care is usually based on evidence based medicine, which utilizes the best available research information. With orthobiologics, the research and data are continuously growing, and so the consensus on how to use orthobiologics to help the body’s natural response to injury and recovery is still being formed. Therefore, anecdotal evidence and individual physician experience is often relied upon to optimize successful outcomes using orthobiologics.

Orthobiologics activate and stimulate pathways that can help assist the body. There are many orthobiologics, variations, concentrations, and combinations that can affect the body differently. Every situation is unique, and every person responds to orthobiologics uniquely.

Establishment of the proper diagnosis, creating a personalized plan, optimizing the biomechanics and physical performance of the affected area, utilizing image guidance whenever possible, continuous assessment of the patient’s progress over time, and providing additional care is what increases the success using the orthobiologics approach.