WCBS —

Coral from the sea is being used in knee surgeries in New York City.

The innovative, new procedure using natural coral is being used to help those suffering from knee osteoarthritis who may not need a total knee replacement.

"Hearing that this was an option ... felt like a miracle," said Tanya Iacono, 47, who has been an athlete all her life. Her passion for competitive powerlifting started in 2019 and took her to nationals back in June. It was a tough journey to get there.

"I finished fourth in my weight and age class," Iacono said. "So that's pretty cool."

While training, she experienced extreme discomfort in her knee, excessive swelling, and mixed advice from doctors.

"I was basically told by some to just not move," Iacono said. "For somebody that's really active, you know,

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