Book Title: Orthoregeneration in Modern Orthopedics
Aims and Scope
Osteoarthritis (OA) and related musculoskeletal disorders represent a global health burden of unprecedented scale, affecting an estimated 528 million individuals worldwide and ranking among the leading causes of pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Articular cartilage — the primary tissue implicated in joint degeneration — is avascular, aneural, and possesses negligible intrinsic regenerative capacity. Conventional management, encompassing analgesia, physiotherapy, intra-articular corticosteroids, and, ultimately, total joint replacement, addresses symptoms without modifying the underlying biological pathology. In younger and active patient populations, arthroplasty carries unacceptable long-term limitations including implant longevity, activity restriction, revision risk, and the progressive loss of bone stock. This clinical reality has catalyzed a paradigm shift toward joint preservation strategies that aim to maintain, restore, or enhance the biological integrity of the native joint.