The Department of Veterans Affairs is opening new doors to the future of osteoarthritis treatment with the unveiling of a specialized research facility at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. The freshly minted Cartilage Regeneration using Advanced Technologies to Enable Motion Center — dubbed the CReATE Motion Center — aims to pioneer methods that could sidestep the need for joint replacement surgeries, a procedure all too common among Veterans.
With its eyes set to rigorously combat osteoarthritis, the CReATE Motion Center was designed to dramatically curb the trend of joint degradation. The center's goals are ambitious but clear-cut: to halt the progression of osteoarthritis in its early stages, conserve the healthier cartilage increasingly compromised as the disease progresses, and to possibly regenerate the precious tissue in more advanced stages. “Veterans live with osteoarthritis at far higher rates than the general population, and this facility will be critical to quickly helping those Vets manage their condition and avoid surgery,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough stated during the ribbon-cutting ceremony reported by news.va.gov.
The urgency of this center's mission is spotlighted by statistics showing Veterans are diagnosed with some form of arthritis at rates dwarfing the general populace — approximately one in three Veterans grapple with the condition. Reflecting the critical need for such advanced research, the VA conducted 13,157 and 15,311 joint replacement surgeries in 2022 and 2023, respectively, with knee surgeries making up the lion's share.
Building on a solid backbone of a decade's worth of osteoarthritis research at the Philadelphia VA, and in partnership with the Atlanta VA Medical Center, the CReATE Motion Center sets its sights on revolutionizing treatment and ideally restoring mobility to many. “At this center, we will work to confidently develop new technologies, approaches, and treatments for osteoarthritis — and improve Veterans’ lives in the process,” McDonough conveyed with optimism, according to a statement obtained by news.va.gov.
Fulfilling part of VA's larger mission to deliver world-class care that Veterans deserve, the healthcare outcomes for enrolled Veterans solidify the Department's standing. VA hospitals have consistently eclipsed non-VA hospitals in quality ratings and patient satisfaction, also offering a more affordable healthcare option for many Veterans who might otherwise face financial hurdles in private healthcare avenues.
