Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation

We evaluated the durability of autologous chondrocyte transplantation grafts in 61 patients treated for isolated cartilage defects on the femoral condyle or the patella and followed up for a mean of 7.4 years (range, 5 to 11). Durability was determined by comparing the clinical status at the long-term follow-up with that found 2 years after the transplantation. After 2 years, 50 of the 61 patients had good or excellent clinical results, and 51 of 61 had good or excellent results at 5 to 11 years later. Grafted areas from 11 of the patients were evaluated with an electromechanical indentation probe during a second-look arthroscopy procedure (mean follow-up, 54.3 months; range, 33 to 84); stiffness measurements…

• V
  Vetenskapsrådet
• SU
  Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset