Characteristic Complications after Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Cartilage Defects of the Knee Joint

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 2091-2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Niemeyer ◽  
Jan M. Pestka ◽  
Peter C. Kreuz ◽  
Christoph Erggelet ◽  
Hagen Schmal ◽  
...  

Background Although autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a well-established therapy for the treatment of isolated cartilage defects of the knee joint, little is known about typical complications and their treatment after ACI. Hypothesis Unsatisfactory outcome after ACI is associated with technique-related typical complications. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods A total of 309 consecutive patients with 349 ACI procedures of the knee joint were analyzed. Three different ACI techniques were used: periosteum-covered ACI in 52 cases (14.9%), Chondrogide (Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhusen, Switzerland) membrane-covered ACI in 215 cases (61.6%), and a 3-dimensional matrix-associated ACI (BioSeed-C, Biotissue Technologies, Freiburg, Germany) in 82 cases (23.5%). In 52 patients, revision surgery was performed for persistent clinical problems. These patients were analyzed for defect size and location, technique of ACI, and intraoperative findings during revision surgery. The mean time of follow-up for patients after ACI was 4.5 years (standard deviation, ±1.5). Results Four typical major complications were identified: hypertrophy of the transplant, disturbed fusion of the regenerative cartilage and the healthy surrounding cartilage, insufficient regenerative cartilage, and delamination. These diagnoses covered a total of 88.5% of the patients who underwent revision surgery. The overall complication rate was highest in the group of patients treated with periosteum-covered ACI ( P = .008). The incidence of symptomatic hypertrophy was 5.2% for all techniques and defect locations; the highest incidence was in patients treated with periosteum-covered ACI (15.4%) ( P = .001). The incidence of disturbed fusion was highest in the Chondrogide-covered ACI (3.7%) and the matrix-associated ACI group (4.8%). Concerning the incidence of complications by defect location, there was a tendency for increased complications in patellar defects ( P = .095). Within the patellar defects group, no correlation was found for the occurrence of delamination, insufficient regeneration, and disturbed fusion. As a statistical trend, an increased rate of hypertrophy was found for patellar defects ( P = .091). Conclusion A major proportion of complications after ACI can be summarized by 4 major diagnoses (symptomatic hypertrophy, disturbed fusion, delamination, and graft failure). Among those, the overall complication rate and incidence of hypertrophy of the transplant were higher for periosteum-covered ACI. Furthermore, an increased rate of symptomatic hypertrophy was found for patellar defects. Therapeutic concepts need to be developed to treat these typical complications of ACI.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712096923
Author(s):  
Lukas Zak ◽  
Anne Kleiner ◽  
Christian Albrecht ◽  
Brigitte Tichy ◽  
Silke Aldrian

Background: For large, locally restricted cartilage defects in young patients, third-generation matrix-supported autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) with a variety of scaffolds has shown good mid- to long-term results. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study aimed to monitor the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who received ACI at the knee joint using the Igor scaffold (IGOR–Institute for Tissue and Organ Reconstruction) at 2-year follow-up. Our hypothesis was that there would be improvements in postoperative subjective scores and cartilage repair tissue quality. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 21 patients (12 male and 9 female) were available for 2-year follow-up after third-generation ACI using the Igor scaffold. All were clinically assessed using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Tegner Activity Scale, Brittberg score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form, Noyes Sports Activity Rating Scale, and visual analog scale for pain. For morphological evaluation, the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) and MOCART 2.0 scores were calculated using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Results were compared between baseline and 24 months postoperatively. Results: After 2 years, the clinical and radiological scores showed good to excellent results in the majority of patients. On the IKDC, 10 patients were graded as excellent, 4 as good, 5 as fair, and 2 as severe; on the KOOS, 7 patients were graded as excellent, 8 as good, 4 as fair, and 2 as severe. From baseline to latest follow-up, visual analog scale pain scores decreased from 5.6 ± 3.2 (mean ± SD) to 1.5 ± 2; KOOS results increased from 51 ± 20.7 to 75.2 ± 15.4; and the Tegner score improved from 2.2 ± 1.8 to 4.3 ± 1.3. The MOCART and MOCART 2.0 scores were comparable at 2-year follow-up, with mean values of 74 ± 10 and 78 ± 13, respectively. Satisfactory filling and integration were found in 90.5%. Overall, 16 of 21 patients (76.1%) were satisfied with the surgery and would undergo the procedure again. Conclusion: Third-generation ACI using the Igor scaffold showed improvements in clinical and radiological results that were comparable with other scaffolds for patients with large traumatic or degenerative cartilage defects. Patients reported a decrease in pain and an increase in activity, with the majority reporting good results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712098213
Author(s):  
Xuesong Dai ◽  
Jinghua Fang ◽  
Siheng Wang ◽  
Jianyang Luo ◽  
Yan Xiong ◽  
...  

Background: Matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) has been proven to provide favorable short-term results for chondral defects in knees. However, it remains unclear whether the clinical benefits of MACI persist in the longer term. Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes, at short- and midterm follow-up, for patients undergoing MACI for focal chondral defects of the knee. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 30 consecutive patients (31 knees) were treated using MACI between October 2010 and March 2018. There were 24 male patients and 6 female patients with an average age of 26 years (range, 12-48 years). The areas of the cartilage defect were consistently >2 cm2. All patients underwent MACI for a focal chondral defect of the femoral condyles or trochlea in the knee. These patients had been evaluated for up to 5 years, with an average follow-up of 44 months (range, 6-60 months) postoperatively. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with T2 mapping were used to assess the outcomes. Results: No patients were lost to follow-up. Mean IKDC scores improved from 58.6 (range, 40.2-80.5) to 79.1 (range, 39.1-94.3) at 12 months and up to 88.4 (range, 83.9-100) at 5 years; mean Lysholm scores improved from 67.3 (range, 46-95) to 90.6 (range, 71-100) at 12 months and up to 95.9 (range, 85-100) at 5 years. The MRI with T2 mapping value of the transplanted area was evaluated for 21 knees, which revealed no differences compared with the normal area at 12 months postoperatively. Conclusion: From the first year onward, the clinical outcome scores and MRI with T2 mapping values showed continuous and marked improvement, suggesting that MACI is a valid option for localized cartilage defects in the knee.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 810-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Schneider ◽  
Sriram Karaikudi

Background: Articular cartilage is limited in its ability to repair itself. Matrix-induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI) is an established treatment method for such articular cartilage defects in the knee. Recently the technique has been used in the ankle. We present a series of patients treated with MACI for osteochondral defects of the ankle, and assess the functional and clinical results. Materials and Methods: From August 2003 to February 2006, 20 patients underwent MACI grafting for osteochondral defects in the ankle. Age ranged from 19 to 61 (mean, 36) years. Mean followup was 21.1 months. Clinical and functional evaluations were conducted using the AOFAS scoring system. Results: The mean size was 233 mm2. There was a significant improvement in mean AOFAS score from 60 (range, 25 to 87) to 87 (range, 41 to 100) ( p < 0.0001). Overall improvement in pain scores was also significant ( p < 0.0001). All osteotomies healed. Four patients required hardware removal and two underwent arthroscopic debridement for anterior impingement. There were two failures which are awaiting subsequent procedures. Conclusion: We believe MACI is a reliable treatment method for talar osteochondral defects. The method usually requires an intra-articular osteotomy, although this proved to be a reasonably simple aspect of the procedure for the treatment of cartilage defects of the talus. Level of Evidence: IV, Case Series


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1134-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Carey ◽  
Kevin G. Shea ◽  
Anders Lindahl ◽  
Haris S. Vasiliadis ◽  
Carl Lindahl ◽  
...  

Background: An unsalvageable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) fragment has been defined as one that cannot be saved. Unsalvageable OCD lesions have been treated with various techniques, including fragment excision, microfracture, osteochondral autograft transfer, fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation, and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). Hypothesis: Patients who underwent ACI as treatment for unsalvageable OCD more than 10 years ago would maintain satisfactory patient-oriented outcome measures and have a low need for additional open surgery, especially arthroplasty. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All Swedish and Norwegian patients (59 patients with 67 OCD lesions) who underwent ACI for OCD under the direction of the senior author between 1990 and 2005 were identified through manual chart review. Features of the patient, OCD lesion, and surgery were extracted from the medical record and intraoperative photographs. Patients were sent questionnaires to assess the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Tegner-Wallgren activity score, and Lysholm score. In addition, patients were asked whether they had to undergo further surgery, including knee replacement, of the knee that underwent ACI. They were asked whether they would have the surgery again if in the same situation. Results: A total of 55 patients (93%) with 61 OCD lesions (91%) responded. The median follow-up duration was 19 years (range, 10-26 years) and the median age at follow-up was 43 years (range, 28-69 years). Subsequent arthroscopy was performed in the majority of cases, although many of these were scheduled “second looks” as part of a study. With respect to other subsequent surgery, 12 knees (20%) underwent any additional open surgery, but only 2 knees (3%) underwent arthroplasty. Eight knees (13%) underwent revision ACI. Most patients reached their preinjury activity level (62%) and would undergo ACI again if in the same situation (85%). If failure is defined as revision of the graft or conversion to arthroplasty, then survivorship after ACI for OCD in the current study would be 87% at 10 years, 85% at 15 years, and 82% at 20 years. Conclusion: ACI for OCD provides a durable treatment option. At a median follow-up of 19 years, there was a very low (~3%) conversion to total knee arthroplasty.


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