Autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of osteochondral lesions

Autologous chondrocyte implantation(ACI) technology and techniques are a rapidly evolving field. There are currently three generations of chondrocyte implantation techniques for osteochondral defects. First-generation and some second generation ACI techniques are in use in the United States while third-generation chondrocyte implantation methods are in the early phases of human clinical trials. ACI is reserved for patients who have failed marrow stimulation. Caveats to this may be the larger OLT (>1.5cm²) or the presence of significant subchondral cyst (>8mm), where ACI with “sandwich” bone grafting is more likely to restore the congruity of the articular surface and underlying bone.
Source: Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Source Type: research