MATRIX-COUPLED AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE-TRANSPLANTATION VERSUS MICROFRACTURING AS THERAPY OF JOINT CARTILAGE DEFECTS OF THE KNEE JOINT: MID-TERM RESULTS IN A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Ouery: Matrix-coupled autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) has become increasingly widespread in the therapy of cartilage defects. The objective of this controlled prospective study was to examine the mid-term results of MACT compared to those of Microfracturing (MF) for the treatment of cartilage defects in the knee joint and to determine possible advantages or disadvantages of the two methods.Method: In order to compare the two treatment methods, 40 patients with discrete cartilage defects were treated with MACT and 40 with MF between 4/01 – 4/03. As inclusion criterion, the patients had a chondral defect of at least 1.5 cm and as exclusion criterion, there could be no additional cartilage damage in the other areas of the knee. MRI examinations were performed preoperative (T2 gew. TSE-Sequence, fetts. FLASH-3D) and could be repeated after 6 and 12 months. Knee joint function, the activity level and the patient’s quality of life were evaluated in both groups pre- and postoperative using the modi...