Do meta-analyses reveal time-dependent differences between the clinical outcomes achieved by microfracture and autologous chondrocyte implantation in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee?

Purpose To test the hypothesis that autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has a better treatment effect than microfracture (MF), and increasing superiority over the years, when performed under similar patient-specific and defect-specific conditions.