Treatment of Deep Cartilage Defects of the Knee with Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation: Long-Term Results
Abstract
The authors present the long-term results of surgical treatment of deep chondral defects of the knee (medial or lateral femoral condyle). They used the transplantation of autologous cultured chondrocytes in the form of a solid chondral graft.Indications for autologous chondrocyte transplantation most frequently included acute trauma to the knee.
Patients with chondral lesions categorized as grades Ilia and 1Mb by the Noyes-Stabler classification were indicated for this treatment. A small sample of healthy cartilage was harvested arthroscopically from the non-weight-bearing area of the knee and was sent to the Tissue Bank for chondrocyte cultivation.
After 4 to 5 weeks the cultured chondrocytes were formed into a solid chondral graft, implanted at the damaged site of the medial or lateral femoral condyle and fixed with fibrin glue (Tissucol). A significant improvement in knee function was recorded when the pre-operative and final follow-up stages were compared.
The autologous chondrocyte transplantation showed a potential for the treatment of large cartilage defects. The excellent results achieved allowed the patients to return to normal activity levels.
This method is also convenient when ligament reconstruction is necessary during one operation.