Clinical Trials and Management of Osteochondral Lesions

Osteochondral lesions are frequent and important causes of pain and disability.
These lesions are induced by traumatic injuries or by diseases that affect both
the cartilage surface and the subchondral bone. Due to the limited cartilage ability to
regenerate and self-repair, these lesions tend to gradually worsen and progress
towards osteoarthritis. The clinical, social, and economic impact of the osteochondral
lesions is impressive and although therapeutic alternatives are under discussion,
a consensus is not yet been achieved. Over the previous decade, new strategies based
on innovative tissue engineering approaches have been developed with promising
results. However, in order those products reach the market and help the actual patient
in an effective manner, there is still a lot of work to be done. The current state of the
implications, clinical aspects, and available treatments for this pathology, as well as
the ongoing preclinical and clinical trials are presented in this chapter.