Second-look assessment after all-arthroscopic autologous chondrocyte implantation with spheroides at the knee joint.

PURPOSE

To report arthroscopic second look as well as clinical results after arthroscopic autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for articular cartilage repair at the knee joint.

METHODS

A second-look assessment after arthroscopic ACI using spheroides was performed in 41 patients with 57 full-size articular cartilage defects of the knee. The median time from ACI to second-look arthroscopy was 10 (6-72) months. The ACI was assessed macroscopically and by probing according to the International Cartilage Repair Score (ICRS)-Cartilage Repair Assessment (CRA) to get information on the amount and quality of regeneration. Clinical follow-up with subjective outcome scores was performed an average of 34.5 ± 19.2 months after ACI. Twenty-seven (65.8 %) of ACI's were combined with additional procedures.

RESULTS

The ICRS-CRA was rated "normal" or "nearly normal" in 52 of 57 (91.3 %) and "abnormal" in 5 (8.8 %) of all cartilage defects. At follow-up, evaluation of KOOS was an average of 81.0 ± 12.9 for pain, 76.8 ± 16.6 for symptoms, 85.1 ± 14.9 for activities of daily living, 55.3 ± 27.7 for sport and recreation and 50.6 ± 23.8 for quality of live. IKDC was 63.0 ± 18.8, Lysholm score was 79.0 ± 18.0, and Tegner score was 4 (1-6). Subjective assessment according to the VAS scale was an average of 7.4 ± 2.1 for overall satisfaction and 6.7 ± 2.5 satisfaction for the operated knee. Seven patients (22.6 %) showed low subjective outcome scores at last follow-up-of these, 2 patients showed a CRA 3 and 5 a CRA 1 or 2.

CONCLUSION

At second-look arthroscopy, 52 (91.3 %) of all cartilage defects showed a normal or nearly normal macroscopic articular cartilage regeneration after arthroscopic ACI using spheroides. Twenty-four patients (77.4 %) showed good subjective clinical results. The high number of concomitant surgery reflexes the complex aetiology of cartilage lesions and complexity of treatment. Thus, a strict indication and surgical planing is necessary to avoid clinical failures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.