Abstract
The technique of all-arthroscopic autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC)-aided
repair of patellar cartilage lesions using a retraction system and dry arthroscopy
has been recently described. We report the first clinical and radiological data at
a short-term follow-up. Twelve patients underwent AMIC-aided cartilage repair for
a patellar lesion. All steps of the procedure were performed arthroscopically, which
include the use of an intra-articularly placed retraction plate for distraction of
the patellofemoral joint and evacuation of saline solution for collagen matrix insertion
and fixation. Clinical assessment performed before surgery and at a mean follow-up
time of 38 months (range: 24–70) included the following scores: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis
Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and visual
analog scale (VAS). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at the follow-up examination,
including the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score.
The mean KOOS and IKDC scores increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 50.3 and 37.4 points preoperatively to 90.1 and 79.4 postoperatively.
The VAS score decreased from 7.8 to 2.3 points. Mean MOCART score at follow-up was
58.3 points. Cartilage repair of patellar lesions aided by a retraction system in
a dry arthroscopy setup is a promising approach. Further studies are needed to evaluate
this procedure and compare it to existing matrix implantation techniques. The level
of evidence for the study is 4 (case series).
Keywords
cartilage repair - knee - patella - AMIC - dry arthroscopy
