Key findings
- AAOS is launching a new Orthobiologics Registry to track real-world outcomes of orthobiologic treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
- The pilot starts with 10 sites, with planned expansion over the next 3 to 5 years.
- The registry will collect patient-reported outcomes and long-term follow-up, with planned links to a biorepository and standardized lab configuration.
AAOS has announced the development of the AAOS Orthobiologics Registry (OBR), a disease and condition-focused registry intended to measure long-term safety, efficacy, and real-world outcomes of orthobiologic therapies for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The pilot program will begin with 10 participating sites, with what AAOS describes as a methodical expansion over the next three to five years.
Why AAOS is building an “orthobiologics” registry
AAOS points to an estimated 32.5 million American adults living with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, with medical costs exceeding $65 billion annually.
Orthobiologics aim to leverage the body’s natural healing process through therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, bone marrow concentrate, and others. These therapies are increasingly used and have shown promise in improving some patient-reported outcomes, but evidence remains limited due to inconsistent reporting of treatment protocols and a lack of long-term data.
“As orthobiologics continue to grow in popularity, we’re at a critical juncture where we need facts, not fiction, about their effectiveness,” said Jason Dragoo, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS OBR and AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology. “This registry will help us understand which patients benefit most from these therapies and under what circumstances, ultimately guiding orthopaedic surgeons in providing the highest quality, evidence-based care to their patients dealing with osteoarthritis of the knee.”
What the registry will track
- Research-focused registry design with patient consent
- Centralized follow-up for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) completion
- Linkage to the BARB Biorepository for biological sample analysis
- Integration with standardized hemoanalyzer configuration
- Detailed adherence protocol intended to support data quality
Technology partners
AAOS has partnered with Elimu Informatics and PatientIQ to develop the technical infrastructure for the OBR. Elimu provides analysis and design support, establishing the registry model using the AAOS Master Data Dictionary and tools, while PatientIQ has developed a cloud-based registry consistent with OBR data specifications that facilitate the input of procedure and patient-reported outcomes data.
Check out the AAOS website for more information.
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