Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in Chondral Defects of the Knee With a Type I/III Collagen Membrane: A Prospective Study With a 3-Year Follow-up

Author(s):  
Matthias Steinwachs ◽  
Peter C. Kreuz
2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Cherubino ◽  
FA Grassi ◽  
P Bulgheroni ◽  
M Ronga

Purpose. To present preliminary clinical experience with Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation, a new tissue-engineering technique for treatment of deep cartilage defects, in which autologous chondrocytes are seeded on a tridimensional scaffold provided by a bilayer type I–III collagen membrane. Methods. From December 1999 to January 2001, 13 patients underwent implantation procedure for deep cartilage defects. Age of patients ranged from 18 to 49 years (mean age, 35 years). The mean defect size was 3.5 cm2 (range, 2.0–4.5 cm2). Clinical and functional evaluation were performed using various score systems for the ankle and the knee, and magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Membrane structure and cellular population were investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrophoresis before implantation. Results. The mean follow-up was 6.5 months (range, 2–15 months). No complications were observed in the postoperative period. The 6 patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months showed an improvement in clinical and functional status after surgery. Magnetic resonance images showed the presence of hyaline-like cartilage at the site of implantation; there was evidence of chondroblasts and type II collagen inside the seeded membrane. Conclusion. Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation offers several advantages with respect to the traditional cultured cell procedure. These include technical simplicity, short operating time, minimal invasiveness, and easier access to difficult sites. It appears to be a reliable method for the repair of deep cartilage defects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Robinson ◽  
T. Williamson ◽  
I. R. Murray ◽  
K. Al-Hourani ◽  
T. O. White

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the reparticipation in sport at mid-term follow up in athletes who underwent biologic treatment of chondral defects in the knee and compare the rates amongst different biologic procedures. Methods A search of PubMed/Medline and Embase was performed in May 2020 in keeping with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The criteria for inclusion were observational, published research articles studying the outcomes and rates of participation in sport following biologic treatments of the knee with a minimum mean/median follow up of 5 years. Interventions included microfracture, osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), osteochondral allograft, or platelet rich plasma (PRP) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). A random effects model of head-to-head evidence was used to determine rates of sporting participation following each intervention. Results There were twenty-nine studies which met the inclusion criteria with a total of 1276 patients (67% male, 33% female). The mean age was 32.8 years (13–69, SD 5.7) and the mean follow up was 89 months (SD 42.4). The number of studies reporting OAT was 8 (27.6%), ACI was 6 (20.7%), MACI was 7 (24.1%), microfracture was 5 (17.2%), osteochondral allograft was 4 (13.8%), and one study (3.4%) reported on PRP and PBSC. The overall return to any level of sport was 80%, with 58.6% returning to preinjury levels. PRP and PBSC (100%) and OAT (84.4%) had the highest rates of sporting participation, followed by allograft (83.9%) and ACI (80.7%). The lowest rates of participation were seen following MACI (74%) and microfracture (64.2%). Conclusions High rates of re-participation in sport are sustained for at least 5 years following biologic intervention for chondral injuries in the knee. Where possible, OAT should be considered as the treatment of choice when prolonged participation in sport is a priority for patients. However, MACI may achieve the highest probability of returning to the same pre-injury sporting level. Level of evidence IV


Cartilage ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 194760351983589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel López-Alcorocho ◽  
Isabel Guillén-Vicente ◽  
Elena Rodríguez-Iñigo ◽  
Ramón Navarro ◽  
Rosa Caballero-Santos ◽  
...  

Purpose Two-year follow-up to assess efficacy and safety of high-density autologous chondrocyte implantation (HD-ACI) in patients with cartilage lesions in the ankle. Design Twenty-four consecutive patients with International Cartilage repair Society (ICRS) grade 3-4 cartilage lesions of the ankle were included. Five million chondrocytes per cm2 of lesion were implanted using a type I/III collagen membrane as a carrier and treatment effectiveness was assessed by evaluating pain with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score at baseline, 12-month, and 24-month follow-up, together with dorsal and plantar flexion. Magnetic resonance observation for cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score was used to evaluate cartilage healing. Histological study was possible in 5 cases. Results Patients’ median age was 31 years (range 18-55 years). Median VAS score was 8 (range 5-10) at baseline, 1.5 (range 0-8) at 12-month follow-up, and 2 (rang e0-5) at 24-month follow-up ( P < 0.001). Median AOFAS score was 39.5 (range 29-48) at baseline, 90 (range 38-100) at 12-month follow-up, and 90 (range 40-100) at 24-month follow-up ( P < 0.001). Complete dorsal flexion significantly increased at 12 months (16/24, 66.7%) and 24 months (17/24, 70.8%) with regard to baseline (13/24, 54.2%) ( P = 0.002). MOCART at 12- and 24-month follow-ups were 73.71 ± 15.99 and 72.33 ± 16.21. Histological study confirmed that neosynthetized tissue was cartilage with hyaline extracellular matrix and numerous viable chondrocytes. Conclusion HD-ACI is a safe and effective technique to treat osteochondral lesions in the talus, providing good clinical and histological results at short- and mid-term follow-ups.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596711769359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Pike ◽  
Tim Bryant ◽  
Takahiro Ogura ◽  
Tom Minas

Background: Cartilage injury associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures is common; however, relatively few reports exist on concurrent cartilage repair with ACL reconstruction. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been utilized successfully for treatment of moderate to large chondral defects. Hypothesis: ACL insufficiency with relatively large chondral defects may be effectively managed with concurrent ACL reconstruction and ACI. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Patients undergoing concurrent ACL primary or revision reconstruction with ACI of single or multiple cartilage defects were prospectively evaluated for a minimum 2 years. Pre- and postoperative outcome measures included the modified Cincinnati Rating Scale (MCRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, visual analog pain scales, and postsurgery satisfaction surveys. ACI graft failure or persistent pain without functional improvement were considered treatment failures. Results: Twenty-six patients were included, with 13 primary and 13 revision ACL reconstructions performed. Mean defect total surface area was 8.4 cm2, with a mean follow-up of 95 months (range, 24-240 months). MCRS improved from 3.62 ± 1.42 to 5.54 ± 2.32, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index from 45.31 ± 17.27 to 26.54 ± 17.71, and visual analog pain scale from 6.19 ± 1.27 to 3.65 ± 1.77 (all Ps <.001). Eight patients were clinical failures, 69% of patients were improved at final follow-up, and 92% stated they would likely undergo the procedure again. No outcome correlation was found with regard to age, body mass index, sex, defect size/number, follow-up time, or primary versus revision ACL reconstruction. In subanalysis, revision ACL reconstructions had worse preoperative MCRS scores and greater defect surface areas. However, revision MCRS score improvements were greater, resulting in similar final functional scores when compared with primary reconstructions. Conclusion: Challenging cases of ACL tears with large chondral defects treated with concurrent ACL reconstruction and ACI can lead to moderately improved pain and function at long-term follow-up. Factors associated with clinical failure are not clear. When combined with ACI, patients undergoing revision ACL reconstructions have worse function preoperatively compared with those undergoing primary reconstructions but have similar final outcomes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 2336-2344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf E. Rosenberger ◽  
Andreas H. Gomoll ◽  
Tim Bryant ◽  
Tom Minas

Background Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has become an accepted option for the treatment of chondral defects in carefully selected patients. Current recommendations limit this procedure to younger patients, as insufficient data are available to conclusively evaluate outcomes in patients older than 45 years. Hypothesis Cartilage repair with ACI in patients older than 45 years results in substantially different outcomes than those previously reported for younger age groups. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods This prospective cohort study reviewed patients 45 years of age at the time of treatment with ACI. The clinical evaluation included a patient satisfaction questionnaire and four validated rating scales: Short Form-36, Modified Cincinnati Rating Scale, WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) Osteoarthritis Index, and the Knee Society Score. Results A total of 56 patients 45 years of age were treated with ACI. The average patient age at index surgery was 48.6 years (range, 45–60 years). The minimum follow-up was 2 years (range, 2–11 years; mean, 4.7 years). The cohort included 36 men and 20 women. The mean transplant size was 4.7 cm2 per defect (range, 1–15.0 cm2) and 9.8 cm2 per knee (range, 2.5–31.6 cm2). Twenty-eight patients (50%) underwent concomitant osteotomies to address malalignment. There were 8 failures (14%); 6 of 15 (40%) in patients receiving workers’ compensation (WC) and 2 of 41 (4.9%) in non-WC patients. Additional arthroscopic surgical procedures were required in 24 patients (43%) for periosteal-related problems and adhesions; 88% of these patients experienced lasting improvement. At their latest available follow-up, 72% of patients rated themselves as good or excellent, 78% felt improved, and 81 % would again choose ACI as a treatment option. Conclusion Our results showed a failure rate of ACI in older patients that is comparable with rates reported in younger patient groups. The procedure is associated with a substantial rate of reoperations, mostly for the arthroscopic treatment of graft hypertrophy, similar to that in younger patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Ogura ◽  
Tim Bryant ◽  
Gergo Merkely ◽  
Tom Minas

Background: Treating bipolar chondral lesions in the patellofemoral (PF) compartment is a challenging problem. There are few reports available on the treatment of bipolar chondral lesions in the PF compartment. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and graft survivorship after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for the treatment of bipolar chondral lesions in the PF compartment. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The authors evaluated 58 patients who had ACI by a single surgeon for the treatment of symptomatic bipolar chondral lesions in the PF compartment between November 1995 and June 2014. All 58 patients (60 knees; mean age, 36.6 years) were included with a minimum 2-year follow-up. The mean ± SD sizes of the patellar and trochlear lesions were 5.6 ± 2.7 cm2 and 4.2 ± 2.8 cm2, respectively. Forty-two patients had osteotomy, as they had PF lateral maltracking, patellar instability, or tibiofemoral malalignment. Patients were evaluated with the modified Cincinnati Knee Rating Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, visual analog scale, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and a patient satisfaction survey. Radiographs were evaluated with the Iwano classification. Results: Overall, the survival rates were 83% and 79% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Of the 49 (82%) knees with retained grafts, all functional scores significantly improved postoperatively with a very high satisfaction rate (88%) at a mean 8.8 ± 4.2 years after ACI (range, 2-16 years). At the most recent follow-up, 28 of 49 successful knees were radiographically assessed (mean, 4.9 years; range, 2-17 years), with no increase of the Iwano classification in 26 knees. Outcomes for 11 patients were considered failures at a mean 2.9 years. Forty-two knees (70%) required a mean 1.0 subsequent surgical procedure. The primary reasons for chondroplasty were hypertrophy of the ACI graft (17; periosteum in 14, collagen membrane in 3), delamination of the ACI graft (5; periosteum in 4, collagen membrane in 1), and new chondral lesions (3). The best survival rates were observed among patients who underwent ACI with concomitant tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) as the first procedure without previous failed TTO and/or marrow stimulation technique (91% at 5 and 10 years), while the worst survival rates were observed among patients who had previous marrow stimulation (43% at 5 and 10 years). Conclusion: Results demonstrated that ACI with concomitant osteotomy, when it is necessary for the treatment of bipolar/kissing lesions in the PF compartments, gives significant improvement in pain and function, with good survival rates at 5 and 10 years (83% and 79%, respectively). The high patient satisfaction rate is encouraging, and a high survival rate can be expected when ACI with a concomitant TTO is performed at the initial surgery for this difficult condition.


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