[Therapy of severe chondral defects of the patella by autologous chondrocyte implantation].

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of this study was to present the results of treatment of deep chondral defects of the patella by transplantation of a solid chondral graft formed by autologous cultured chondrocytes.

Material And Methods: Indications for autologous chondrocyte implantation most frequently included acute trauma to the knee, particularly the patella, which resulted in a severe focal cartilage defect. The lesions were assessed on the basis of the Bessette and Hunter classification preoperatively, and on the Outerbridge classification during arthroscopy. A sample of healthy cartilage was harvested from a non-weight-bearing area of the trochlea femoris. After cultivation of chondrocytes for 28 to 42 days in the tissue bank, a solid chondral graft, prepared with the use of fibrin glue (Tissucol), was ready for implantation.

Results: Six patients, two males and four females (average age, 21.1 years; range, 13 to 39 years) were treated by this method in the period from July 2003 to October 2005. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 25 months, with an average of 18.5 months. The patients were examined postoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 2 weeks, 2 and 6 months, and at 1 year. The clinical results were evaluated by the Meyers, the Tegner and the Lysholm knee scoring systems. Two of the six patients, in whom the follow-up period was shorter than 6 months, were not included in the evaluation.

Conclusions: A significant improvement in knee function was recorded when the preoperative and final follow-up stages were compared, as well as on comparison with the healthy contralateral knee joint. MRI examination showed good graft incorporation in all patients.