Sandwich Technique for Large Osteochondral Lesions of the Knee.

Objective: To evaluate whether a sandwich technique procedure for large osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the medial femur condyle reduces clinical symptoms and improves activity level as well as to assess repair tissue integration on MRI over 2 years.

Design: Twenty-one patients (median age: 29 years, 18-44 years) who received matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) combined with cancellous bone grafting at the medial femur condyle in a 1-step procedure were prospectively included. Patients were evaluated before surgery (baseline) as well as 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, including clinical evaluation, Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Rating Scale, and MRI with Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score and a modified Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS).

Quantitative 3-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Matrix-Associated Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation With Autologous Bone Grafting of the Knee: The Importance of Subchondral Bone Parameters.

Background: Matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) with autologous bone grafting (ABG) is an effective surgical treatment for osteochondral defects. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are increasingly applied as noninvasive biomarkers to assess the biochemical composition of cartilage repair tissue.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of quantitative MRI parameters of cartilage repair tissue and subchondral bone marrow with magnetic resonance morphologic and clinical outcomes after MACI with ABG of the knee.

Cartilage T Relaxation Times and Subchondral Trabecular Bone Parameters Predict Morphological Outcome After Matrix-Associated Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation With Autologous Bone Grafting.

Background: Quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques are established for evaluation of cartilage composition and trabecular bone microstructure at the knee. It remains unclear whether quantitative MR parameters predict the midterm morphological outcome after matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation (MACI) with autologous bone grafting (ABG).

Purpose: To assess longitudinal changes and associations of the biochemical composition of cartilage repair tissue, the subchondral bone architecture, and morphological knee joint abnormalities on 3-T MR imaging after MACI with ABG at the knee.

T2-relaxation time of cartilage repair tissue is associated with bone remodeling after spongiosa-augmented matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation.

Objective: To investigate whether T2 relaxation time measurements of cartilage repair tissue and structural changes of the knee joint are associated with subchondral bone architecture after spongiosa-augmented matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI).

Design: Both knees of 25 patients (25.5 ± 7.