Orthobiologics &
Regenerative Medicine

Week 2

• Bone Biology, Healing, & Repair

Learn the foundations of Regenerative Medicine specifically the anatomy and structure of bone, bone composition, bone healing, bone modeling & remodeling, and AO Principles.  Discuss the importance of bone grafting, biologic mechanisms (osteoconduction, osteoinduction, osteogenesis), scaffolds, stem cells, and growth factors. Here we build a foundation for your biologics knowhow and learn all about autograft before we learn about alternatives to autograft for fusion and other procedures.

• Cartilage Biology, Healing, & Repair

Learn the types of cartilage and their unique biologic profiles. Discuss osteochondral defects and osteoarthritis along with the cartilage injury continuum of care.  Understand treatment options such as corticosteroids injections, hyaluronic acid injections (HyA), platelet rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow concentrate (BMC), microfracture (MFx), osteochondral autograft/allograft transfer system (OATS), and allografts used to augment cartilage repair. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of biologic based products and procedures that could delay or even eliminate the need for a total joint procedure.

Week 3

• Tissue Banking

Students will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the tissue donation process, key medical rule outs, safety & efficacy of allografts, aseptic processing versus terminal sterilization processing methods, packaging & graft tracking.

• Cells & Regulation

Understanding of different stem cells types and how biologics products are regulated is critical understanding for any rep selling biologics. Students gain valuable information regarding types of stem cells and how biologics are regulated. This learning is reinforced in all other biologics learning modules.

• Synthetic Bone Graft Substitutes

Synthetic bone grafts offer a man-made alternative to autograft or are employed to extend the spread of autograft. The synthetics marketplace is expansive and touches all orthopedic specialties. Many specialtiesare inclined to use synthetic bone graft substitutes because of their strong safety profile.

• Demineralized Bone Matrices (DBM)

Demineralized Bone Matrices (DBM) are allografts that are used in many orthopedic fusion applications. DBMs tend to excel in terms of their handling which is a key feature for surgeons in all specialties. The DBM marketplace is extensive with most companies offering at least one DBM option as part of their product lineup.

• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentration of autologous platelets in a small volume of plasma. Platelets provide a key component necessary for tissue healing. PRP has vast utility in many orthopedic applications and its use offers opportunities to diversify one’s sales portfolio beyond orthopedics.

• Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMA) & Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC)

Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMA) and Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC) are a source for autologous stem cells and platelets. Both are used full time for bone graft substitute hydration which enhances the regenerative potential and handling of basically any graft. Most companies offer a bone marrow concentration device as part of their product portfolio.

• Cellular Bone Matrices (CBM)

Cellular Bone Matrices (CBM) are one of the newest types of bone graft to market and what makes them most unique is that they contain live stem cells. CBMs match autograft in terms of their biologic profile and can be a real game changer for at risk patients who need a premium graft to get results.

Week 4

• Placental Tissue Allografts

This type of allograft is derived from birth tissues that would otherwise have been discarded. They have vast utility across many orthopedic and non-orthopedic specialties due to their regulation. Because of their biologic profile, Placental Tissue Allografts have many key benefits that could supplement a patient’s healing and ease current and future surgical procedures for surgeons.

• Extracellular Matrices (ECM)

Extracellular Matrices (ECM) are a complex category of products that are used in tendon and ligament repair augmentation, wound treatment, and other types of soft tissue repair and reinforcement. Most extracellular matrices offer a needed scaffold to the repair site while others have this same scaffold and so much more.

• Wounds

Students learn about many different types of wounds, how wounds heal, and factors that contribute to chronic wounds. Students use their building knowledge of key products like placental tissue allografts, extracellular matrices (ECM), and PRP to explore treatment options for various wound types. The wounds market is really growing and offers medical device representatives many employment opportunities beyond the typical orthopedic device role.

• Soft Tissue Biology, Healing & Repair – Tendon & Ligament 

Students learn about the structure of tendon & ligament, their biology, and the phases of soft tissue healing. We put your growing understanding of biologic products and devices to work here through detailed discussion of how to use various biologic products to enhance healing of orthopedic soft tissues.