Challenge: “Proof of concept” that orthobiologics are ready for wider adoption as a musculoskeletal treatment option in both an office “stand alone” and surgical setting.

Solution: Use benchmarked, real-world outcomes data from the DataBiologics platform to validate and showcase objective results of his regenerative therapies. 

Transforming Belief Into Objective Outcomes 

Dr. Kelly Cunningham MD, founder of Austin OrthoBiologics (Austin, TX), is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a treatment philosophy that emphasizes utilizing the least invasive orthopedic and sports medicine treatments possible. Around 2016, Dr. Cunningham became an early believer and adopter of regenerative treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and cell-based (“stem cell”) therapies. Early clinical results were encouraging, but what he needed was proof, not just anecdotal evidence. 

And that’s exactly what he found in DataBiologics. 

By using DataBiologics’ patient-reported outcomes system, Dr. Cunningham has collected validated Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) and is benchmarking his results against a national registry of over 30,000 cases. The comparison is telling a powerful story: not only are his protocols working, but they are outperforming national averages, drawn from over 250 providers. His patients typically experience faster pain relief, longer-lasting results, and greater improvements in function than typical outcomes seen with traditional interventions. 

“As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, I appreciate opportunities for my patients to consider a range of treatment options other than just surgery and a lengthy recovery,” says Cunningham. “Biologics offers that, often delaying or avoiding surgery.”

Using Data to Overcome Skepticism 

In an industry where anecdotes often drown out evidence, Dr. Cunningham is using real-world outcomes to rise above the noise. By showcasing the difference between his orthobiologics and conventional injection therapies such as corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid, he has built a compelling case for biologics as a first-line treatment for joint pain and arthritis, as well as soft tissue injuries such as tennis elbow, hamstring and achilles tendonitis. 

With DataBiologics’ visual tools, Dr. Cunningham has translated complex outcomes into clear, compelling insights. Whether comparing recovery curves for shoulder, knee, or hip patients, or illustrating the long-term benefit of PRP and “stem cells” over steroid injections, the data serves as a powerful counterpoint to alternatives, even joint replacement. 

One clear takeaway? With his consistent and concise protocols, the majority of his patients don’t need a second injection for 12–18 months. Significant pain relief and improved activity levels can often be reproduced with additional treatment, again avoiding more aggressive procedures. 

Showcasing Data to The Broader Community 

To further promote transparency and educate both peers and patients, Dr. Cunningham has authored nearly a dozen blog posts detailing these insights. In these posts he incorporates simple visuals from the DataBiologics platform to back up his clinical results. 

He also shares his findings on social media platforms like LinkedIn where his peers and the broader public can view snippets of the data. This evidence-based content is helping instill confidence in his patients and referring medical peers. It’s also adding to the broader conversation about where orthobiologics fits into orthopedic care. 

“There are lots of treatment choices out there for joint pain; hard data to help guide those decisions is of great benefit to my patients,” says Cunningham. “DataBiologics is at the forefront of that process.”