Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. While arthritis can develop in any joint, it commonly occurs in large, weight-bearing joints like the hips, knees and ankles. As the disease progresses, pain, inflammation and stiffness lead to difficulty walking and a significant loss of independent mobility. 

For years, osteoarthritis was considered to be a “surface problem” because it causes the degeneration of articular cartilage that covers and protects joints. Likewise, standard-of-care treatments are heavily focused on surface issues like reducing or masking pain and symptoms.

Modern research has proven that arthritis affects the entire joint, including the articular cartilage, underlying bone (subchondral bone), connective ligaments and soft tissues, and the synovial membrane. Scientists have found that bone marrow lesions (BMLs) — areas of weak, damaged and degenerated subchondral bone — play an integral role in pain levels and disease progression for patients with arthritis. 

Bone marrow lesions are an overlooked, underdiagnosed and undertreated condition in the clinical setting. They’re visible on MRIs, but many medical providers aren’t trained to look for and identify BMLs, much less treat them. 

What Are the Dangers of Undiagnosed BMLs?

For patients in the early stages of osteoarthritis, BMLs may remain small, decrease in size and even resolve completely with conservative treatments. However, bone marrow lesions present significant complications in patients with advanced or progressive osteoarthritis. For these patients, BMLs are more likely to persist and grow larger.  

Studies have found a correlation between large bone marrow lesions and symptomatic osteoarthritis. New and expanding research has found that BMLs are associated with the following:

• Significant pain
• Loss of joint mobility
• Increased progression of cartilage loss
• Increased rate of joint degeneration
• Increased risk of joint collapse

In sum, undiagnosed bone marrow lesions appear to significantly increase the severity of pain and speed up the progression of disease in patients with arthritis.

The iO-Core™ Procedure Treats Underlying Bone Damage

Currently, there are no treatments available that prevent the progression of arthritis. Traditional treatment methods like medications, physical therapy, exercise, assistive devices, injections and weight management largely focus on reducing pain and inflammation and preserving joint function. 

New research analyzing the disease progression of arthritis reveals that the articular cartilage and subchondral bone have a primary role in stabilizing and preserving the joint. Because these two components function as one unit, pathological changes in either the bone or cartilage speed up degenerative changes in the other and accelerate degeneration of the joint as a whole. 

Failing to identify and treat the underlying bone damage caused by lesions leaves patients with unresolved pain, discomfort and loss of movement and mobility. Research suggests that targeting BMLs for treatment can help reduce pain, improve function, preserve joint structure, and slow the progression of the disease for patients with osteoarthritis.   

The iO-Core™ procedure targets the root cause of joint pain using a sequence of procedures that combines orthopedic methods with biologics. It addresses both the surface loss of cartilage and the underlying bone damage to prevent further weakening and degeneration. 

During the treatment process, a healthy bone graft is inserted into the lesion area. The graft assists in structurally supporting, re-growing and healing the damaged bone. Next, a core decompression is performed to relieve pressure caused by BMLs. Finally, bone marrow aspirates rich in growth factors, stem cells and progenitor cells are injected into the lesion and joint space. The injection helps revascularize and repair damaged bone and joint structures. 

Contact Our iO-Core™ Provider Clinic to Find Out If You’re a Candidate

We’ve found that the iO-Core™ procedure is outperforming traditional treatments for reducing pain and improving joint function in patients. Many patients who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief from iO-Core™ instead. The procedure is minimally invasive and performed in an outpatient setting. All procedures are performed by a board-certified medical doctor who is trained in the iO-Core™ treatment technique. In many cases, iO-Core™ is covered by insurance.

If you’ve been told you have arthritis or need a total joint replacement surgery, call us at 866-978-1715 or fill out a contact form to find out if you’re a candidate for the iO-Core™ procedure.