Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: Surgical Technique and Outcomes

Chondral defects of the knee are frequently encountered during arthroscopy. For symptomatic lesions, several surgical options exist. Determining the best surgical option for a patient can be challenging for the treating surgeon. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is an articular cartilage–restoring procedure that is commonly used to treat medium-to-large full-thickness cartilage lesions of the knee. It is a 2-stage procedure requiring cartilage biopsy, 4-6 weeks of in vitro chondrocyte expansion, followed by reimplantation.

Source: Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics - August 5, 2014 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Brian J. Chilelli, Marissa R. Mastrocola, Andreas H. Gomoll Source Type: research