Gel-type autologous chondrocyte (Chondron) implantation for treatment of articular cartilage defects of the knee.

Background: Gel-type autologous chondrocyte (Chondron) implantations have been used for several years without using periosteum or membrane. This study involves evaluations of the clinical results of Chondron at many clinical centers at various time points during the postoperative patient follow-up.

Methods: Data from 98 patients with articular cartilage injury of the knee joint and who underwent Chondron implantation at ten Korean hospitals between January 2005 and November 2008, were included and were divided into two groups based on the patient follow-up period, i.