We describe five results of a novel single stage arthroscopic technique for the treatment of articular cartilage defects of the knee. This involves micro drilling and application of Atelo-collagen (Coltrix) and fibrin gel scaffold. The preclinical study involved two groups of rabbits treated with micro-drilling, and micro-drilling with Atelo-collagen and fibrin gel. New cartilage was subjected to staining with H&E for tissue morphology, toluidine blue (collagen) and safranin O (GAG), immunohistochemistry with antibodies for collagen type I and II, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy to analyse the microstructural morphologies. The micro-drilling with Atelo-collagen, fibrin gel scored better than the micro-drilling alone. Patients (n=30) with symptomatic ICRS grade III/IV chondral defects (lesion size 2–8cm2) are recruited for this prospective study. The surgical procedure involved micro-drilling and application of Atelo–collagen and fibrin gel under CO2 insufflation. Patients underwent morphological evaluation with MRI (T2*-mapping and d-GEMRIC scans). Clinical assessment was done with Lysholm, IKDC and KOOS scores. Radiological assessment was performed with MOCART score.Introduction
Materials and Method
