A pioneering project by researchers at the Science Foundation of Ireland into a new treatment for Osteoarthritis has recently begun. If successful, the project could transform the treatment of orthopaedic conditions, and osteoarthritis, a disease of the joints, caused by the break-down of cartilage and bone tissue, usually in the hip and knee.

The aim of the project is to develop a class of personalised 3D-printed biological implant that would regenerate, rather than replace, diseased joints. At present, treatment for such conditions is restricted to surgical replacement procedures, which although are generally successful, usually require the patients to get replacement implants in later years of their lives.

Osteoarthritis currently affects about 915,000 people in Ireland with nearly 10,000 hip and knee replacements undertaken annually. If successful, it has the potential to transform how the medical profession treat degenerative diseases in the future.

Ronan Hynes, Partner at Sellors commented on the project that: “Technology is transforming our everyday lives and this is especially true in the area of medicine and patient care. Science and technology are helping to prevent, diagnose, and often cure diseases as well as alleviating symptoms or treat ailments. Over time, these 3D bio implants could be an innovative solution for thousands of people affected by a very debilitating condition.”