Welcome to the first issue of JCJP 2025

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Cartilage & Joint Preservation (JCJP) of 2025!This issue features the research of multiple experts in the field of cartilage restoration and focuses on techniques for both the nonsurgical management of osteoarthritis (OA) and surgical treatment of chondral lesions.Continue reading below for a preview of what is to come. OsteoarthritisKnee OA is an unfortunately common condition.For mild-to-moderate OA, nonsurgical strategies such as oral analgesics, activity modification, weight management, physical therapy, and injections, including platelet rich plasma, can be used.However, as discussed in Park et al's systematic review entitled, "Postinjection protocols following platelet rich plasma injection for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials," many studies focused on the efficacy of platelet rich plasma injections fail to provide clear information on instructions for the postinjection period.In their study of 71 randomized controlled trials, the researchers found that only 54.9% of the included studies mentioned postinjection nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and even fewer discussed weight bearing restrictions and rehabilitation protocols.Ultimately, the researchers highlight an important consideration for future studies.Next, Macekov et al summarize the current literature on amniotic membranes for OA in their narrative review, "Application of amniotic membrane in osteoarthritis management."Analyzing both preclinical and clinical studies, they provide an in-depth discussion on the mechanisms in which amniotic membranes exert their effects, their positive treatment potential, favorable safety profile, and avenues for further research.In the article entitled, "Severe acute localized reactions after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections: a narrative review and physician's guide to incidence, prevention, and management of these adverse reactions," Humphries et al examines the occurrence and prevention of severe arthralgia, erythema, swelling, and range of motion reductions that can occur within hours to days after hyaluronic acid injections.Though these reactions are rare, given the frequency in which hyaluronic acid injections are performed, this paper offers pertinent advice to providers caring for patients with knee OA. Cartilage restorationPatients with symptomatic, focal chondral defects often need to consider surgical intervention.However, in patients with concurrent patellar instability and chondral lesions, it can be difficult to determine whether the lesion is significantly contributing to their pain.To clarify the role of cartilage restoration in the setting of recurrent patellar instability, Rund et al review the outcomes of 130 patients (144 knees) in their study, "Patellofemoral stabilization with and without cartilage restoration."One-hundred thirteen knees were treated with isolated patellofemoral stabilization, whereas 31 underwent both stabilization and a cartilage procedure.Though the patients undergoing concomitant cartilage restoration had significantly lower scores on preoperative outcome measures,