Abstract
Objective The aim of our study is to analyze the clinical and functional results obtained using
autologous chondrocytes embedded in a fibrin scaffold in knee joint injuries.
Methods We included 56 patients, 36 men and 20 women, with a mean age 36 years. Six of the
patients were professional athletes, with single knee injuries that were either chondral
or osteochondral (43 chondral, 9 osteochondral, 2 cases of osteochondritis dissecans
and 2 osteochondral fractures), 2 to 10 cm2 in size and ≤ 10 mm deep, with no signs of osteoarthritis. The location of the injury
was in the patella (8), the medial femoral condyle (40) and lateral femoral condyle
(7) and one in the trochlea. The mean follow-up was 3 (range: 1–6) years. The clinical
course was assessed using the Cincinnati and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome
(KOOS) scores, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The paired Student t-test was used to
compare pre-and postoperative results.
Results Six months after the implant, patients resumed their everyday activities. On the
assessment scores, their condition was improving in comparison with their presurgical
state (p < 0.05). They were also able to carry out their sporting activities more easily than
prior to surgery (p < 0.05).
Conclusion The seeding of chondrocytes in fibrin may provide a favorable micro-environment for
the synthesis of extracellular matrix and improved the clinical condition and activity
of the patients 1 year after surgery.
Keywords
cartilage - knee - scaphoid bone - chondrocytes - fibrin
