The ACT Procedure: Autograft Cartilage Transfer Using an Autologous Tissue Collector

This chapter focuses on the use of autograft cartilage and biologics in cartilage restoration. An osteochondral defect in a young active patient remains a difficult issue to treat. Autograft cartilage has tremendous advantages for the treatment of full-thickness defects, but harvesting and preparation have been difficult in the past. Disadvantages have included donor-site morbidity and the need for further surgery. With recent development in technology, harvesting and delivery of autograft cartilage have become easier and performed arthroscopically in a single surgical procedure. Bone marrow concentrate has recently increased in popularity owing to the presence of mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells combined with autograft cartilage and BioCartilage (Arthrex) could lead to better incorporation and healing. This chapter demonstrates how this unique biological composite is obtained and then added in the cartilage defect during a single-stage arthroscopic procedure.