For many people living with excruciating joint pain and difficulty moving around, total joint replacement surgery seems like the only viable option left. And while joint replacement surgery is effective for many people, it also comes with multiple serious risks, a costly medical bill, and a long, slow recovery period.
If you’ve been told you need joint replacement surgery, you have another option to consider first. The innovative iO-Core™ procedure is the latest treatment method for arthritis and other severe joint injuries. It’s scientifically informed by studying the disease progression of joint degeneration and pinpointing methods to treat the root cause of joint pain.
Keep reading to learn if you should call us to learn more about the iO-Core™ procedure.
What Conditions Does iO-Core™ Treat?
The iO-Core™ procedure is used to treat several conditions that cause progressive cartilage degeneration and underlying bone (subchondral bone) damage. Here are the conditions we commonly see at our clinic.
- Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis — also called wear and tear arthritis — is the most common form of arthritis. It develops when the cartilage covering joint surfaces begins to erode, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation inside the affected joint. Over time, the disease process leads to degeneration of the entire joint, including the cartilage, subchondral bone, joint lining, and connective ligaments.
- Chondral defects. Chondral defects are areas of articular cartilage damage. Articular cartilage is the tough, smooth cartilage covering joint surfaces. Left untreated, articular cartilage damage can lead to osteoarthritis. Chondral defects are commonly caused by natural wear and tear or traumatic joint injuries. Sometimes they develop as a secondary injury to a ligament injury.
- Bone marrow lesions. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are areas of degenerated subchondral bone under a joint surface. They frequently present in the setting of osteoarthritis and are associated with increased pain and increased rate of cartilage loss and joint collapse. These lesions can also develop in the setting of any condition that affects the structural integrity of bone. They may form as a response to inflammatory arthritis, bone infections, or traumatic bone injuries (like fractures).
- Osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis — also called avascular necrosis — is a disease that causes bone tissue death. Bone tissue death occurs when blood vessels become blocked or damaged and the bone receives an inadequate supply of fresh oxygen and blood. Left untreated, osteonecrosis can lead to bone damage, joint collapse, and osteoarthritis. Common risk factors associated with osteonecrosis include traumatic bone injuries (like fractures), long-term corticosteroid use, and excessive alcohol use.
- Insufficiency fractures. A subchondral insufficiency fracture is a subtype of stress fracture that develops in the subchondral bone below a joint surface. Insufficiency fractures occur when normal stress is repeatedly placed on abnormal or weak bone. Subchondral insufficiency fractures are associated with the subsequent development of osteonecrosis.
- Subchondral bone cysts. Subchondral bone cysts are fluid-filled lesions that develop in the subchondral bone inside a joint. Subchondral cysts are a sign of osteoarthritis.
Who Is a Candidate for the Procedure?
All of the conditions listed above are progressive diseases that can lead to significant pain and disability over time. You may be a candidate for the iO-Core™ procedure if you’re experiencing the following:
- Significant joint pain
- Joint swelling and inflammation
- Joint stiffness
- Loss of joint flexibility and range of motion
- Difficulty walking or performing daily activities due to pain and stiffness
If your doctor has told you that joint replacement surgery is the only option left, please call us first to find out if you’re a candidate for the iO-Core™ procedure. If you are, you may be able to avoid a costly replacement surgery and a long recovery and rehabilitation period.
How Is iO-Core™ Different from Other Joint Pain Treatments?
Traditional joint pain and arthritis treatments like medications, injections, assistive devices, and physical therapy focus on symptom reduction. The purpose of these treatments is to reduce daily pain and preserve joint function for as long as possible. However, none of these treatments prevent the progression of joint degeneration. And that means, eventually, these treatments become less effective, joint degeneration progresses, and total replacement surgery becomes the only option left.
Additionally, bone pathologies like bone marrow lesions and osteonecrosis are frequently underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated in the clinical setting. However, arthritis patients with bone marrow lesions are associated with more severe joint pain, more cartilage loss, and faster joint degeneration than patients without underlying bone pathologies.
Unlike traditional arthritis treatments, the iO-Core™ procedure targets the root cause of joint pain. The minimally invasive procedure uses a combination of orthopedic methods with biologics to heal and restore underlying bone damage, promote cartilage regrowth, and prevent further joint damage. Many patients who have undergone iO-Core™ experience pain relief and better joint function within one week following the procedure.
The iO-Core™ procedure is minimally invasive, requires no hardware or implants, and requires minimal to no downtime after surgery.
Find Out If You’re a Candidate for iO-Core™
Learn more about the science behind the iO-Core™ procedure here: What Is the iO-Core™ Procedure?
Have questions? We have answers here: Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re living with debilitating joint pain, contact our clinic to find out if you’re a candidate for the innovative iO-Core™ procedure.