[Experimental and clinical aspects of the living articular cartilage transplantation and half-joint transplantation (author's transl)].

The articular cartilage transplantation and the half-joint transplantation necessitate the assessment of specific biological-transplantation questions as to the structure and function of the hyaline cartilage. Compared with other organ transplantations biometric and biomechanical factors have to be taken into consideration additionally. Up to now contradictory results were obtained in the animal experiment. On principle a survival of grafted non-preserved parts of cartilage seems to be possible. In clinical practice therapeutic trials for autogenous reimplantation of articular cartilage, autogenous joint surface partial transplantations and half-joint transplantations are justified. Allogenous half-joint transplantations may also be possible in exceptional cases.