Introduction

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a common procedure, primarily performed in active, young patients to treat knee pain and functional limitations resulting from cartilage injury. Nevertheless, the functional outcomes of ACI remain poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the biomechanical outcomes of ACI.

Methodology

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched using the terms ‘Knee OR Knee joint AND Autologous chondrocyte implantation OR ACI’. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen publications by title, abstract, and full text. Study quality and bias were assessed by two reviewers. PROSPERO ID: CRD42021238768.

Methods

This was an IRB approved, prospectively collected case series, level 4 study. We evaluated 115 patients. 58 patients who had ACI for the treatment of symptomatic bipolar chondral lesions in the PF compartment and 57 in the TF compartment with a minimum 2-year follow up. A single surgeon performed all the surgeries between October 1995 and June 2014. In the PF group, all 58 patients (60 knees; mean age, 36.6 years) were included, and for the TF group one patient did not return for follow-up, 56 patients (58 knees) were included.

For the PF group, an average size of the patella and trochlea lesions were 5.6 ± 2.7 cm2 and 4.2 ± 2.8 cm2, respectively. For the TF group, an average of 3.1 lesions per knee were treated, representing a total surface area of 16.1 cm2 (range, 3.2 – 44.5 cm2) per knee. Patients were evaluated with the modified Cincinnati Knee Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the Short Form 36. Patients also answered questions regarding self-rated knee function and satisfaction with the procedure. Standard radiographs were evaluated for progression of OA.