Cartilage cell transplants
Cartilage restoration is one of the surgical treatments for defects in the cartilage tissue of the joints. Typically, these cartilage injuries do not heal independently, and you need to consult a good cartilage doctor.
Advanced methods of building up, restoration, and transplantation of the cartilage tissue of the ankle joint:
Conservative methods:
“Orthokine-therapy,” PRP (platelet rich mass), SVF (stromal vascular fraction), SWT – shock wave therapy, the introduction of reparative preparations of cartilage tissue, taking chondroprotective.
Modern cell technologies based on modern cell therapy and tissue engineering, as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques for the restoration and transplantation of damaged articular cartilage:
- Methods of bone marrow stimulation, leading to the formation of fibrous cartilage, one-stage operation:
Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis- AMIC is a one-stage (one operation) surgical technique for bone marrow stimulation, Surgery for treating cartilage defects.
AMIC is an advanced biological method of joint cartilage repair based on the patient’s stem cells. It is covered in the defect area with an implanted collagen membrane – the Chondro matrix, thereby protecting stem cells and stimulating cells to form cartilage repair tissue.
- Techniques using cellular technologies lead to the formation of “hyaline-like” cartilage, a two-stage operation:
- Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT). Matrix-associated implantation of autologous chondrocytes -mACI: periosteum-coated (ACI-P), collagen-coated (ACI-C)
Autologous Cartilage Cell Transplantation is a two-stage, third-generation ACT procedure in which cultured cartilage cells are already integrated into a matrix (collagen carrier matrix / hyaluronic acid fleece.
- The following form of ACT is the transplantation of exclusively autologous cartilage cells with Spherox®️ . These are clusters of cartilage cells, which, in addition to cell proliferation, have already formed an intercellular matrix in three-dimensional space and are placed in the form of applied spheroids in a cartilage defect.
- Methods of direct cartilage replacement, one operation:
- The body’s cartilage tissue is crushed into small fragments, placed in the defect area, and fixed with a matrix. The advantage of this method is that the subchondral bone plate is not damaged, as is the case with micro fracturing.
- Osteo-cartilaginous autografting system or mosaic plastic Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS).
- Open cartilage surgery, including transplantation of vascularized bone autografts and chips.
AMIC (Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis) is a treatment for cartilage damage. It is based on the regenerative properties of mesenchymal stem cells. This method is suitable for treating arthrosis and defects of the ankle cartilage up to 2×2 cm. The indication for such an operation is a cartilage defect of grades 3 and 4 in patients whose age has not yet reached 55 years.
In the first stage of the operation, the degenerative cartilage tissue is cut off and completely removed by the arthroscopic method. The bone defect of the ankle will be filled with endogenous bone tissues of the patient (for example, from the calcaneus or tibia). In the case when the surface of the cartilage is not damaged, and there is no defect visible to the naked eye, the bone plate is perforated in several places (microfracture). The collagen membrane serves as a matrix (sample) for the patient’s stem cells to be fixed on it and, as a result, regenerated into cartilage tissue.
Summary
Cartilage doctors are constantly researching and developing new techniques for repairing damaged cartilage. Recent advances include autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), matrix-induced chondrogenesis (MIC), and 3D printing technology. ACI involves harvesting and culturing a patient’s cartilage cells before implanting them into the damaged area. MIC uses a scaffold to stimulate the growth of new cartilage tissue. 3D printing technology can create customized implants that fit a patient’s anatomy perfectly. Additionally, advances in stem cell research are showing promise in the development of new cartilage repair techniques. These new techniques offer hope for patients suffering from cartilage damage and may help delay or avoid joint replacement surgery.