Abstract
Over recent years chondrocyte implantation (MACI) has become a recognised procedure. This paper presents the results of two players in the national rugby league competition who play first grade football and have undergone the procedure.
Professional sports medical care can be difficult. Demands from players, the public and coaches are beyond our normal requirements as surgeons. Faced with two high-profile players with career ending focal grade 4 chondral lessions and not responding to our normal treatment methods, I performed chondrocyte implantation (MACI) to deal with this. Both players have responded well to treatment and returned to first grade football
The two players in question had focal grade 4 chondral lesions. They had not responded to treatment and had recurrent effusions restricting their ability to play. Player A required a revision acl reconstruction as he was to be away from the game for a year. I treated his chondral lesion with MACI. His effusion settled and he returned to play with no further delays other than those expected from the acl surgery.
Encouraged by this result, I performed the second procedure on a very high- profile player who had recurrent pain and effusion and had been treated with arthroscopies with little improvement.
Faced with retirement, he opted for the procedure and returned to first grade the following season.
