Articular cartilage repair is the improvement of defects of the joint cartilage, either by surgery or biological intervention.

Page updated November 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

microfracture

 

Microfracture - a marrow stimulation technique, where holes are picked through the cartilage base plate, to allow blood and cells to track through into the defect.

ACI

 

In ACI - a cell-based therapy - cartilage cells are multiplied in the laboratory and injected into the defect behind a membrane.

 

 

Cartilage repair is part of regenerative medicine

There is a lot of focus currently on regenerative techniques for restoring damaged joint cartilage. Procedures include microfracture, nanofracture, ACI, mosaicplasty, MACI, AMIC, NAMIC, stem cell injections and microfragmented fat injections.

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Forum discussions

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Peer-reviewed papers

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Synonyms: 
Cartilage repair
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