Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering

2.6. CHAPTER CONCEPTS 29

• The costs of cartilage injuries can be significant to both the young and the elderly. Traumatic

injuries are seen with automobile accidents and, recently, with combat trauma.

• Osteoarthritis (OA) affects over one fifth of the US population over 45 and almost one half

of those over 65.

• OA cartilage loses proteoglycans and possesses lower mechanical properties. Wear of the

cartilage can lead to complete destruction of the articular surface and significant pain.

• In the US alone, costs of OA are in excess of $65 billion per year (both medical costs and lost

wages). Comorbidities are common with OA and are also costly to manage.

• In addition to the elderly, cartilage injuries in children and adolescents are increasingly ob-

served, with roughly 20% of knee injuries in adolescents requiring surgery.