[Minced cartilage procedure for the treatment of acetabular cartilage lesions of the hip joint]

Editorial Commentary: Acetabular Cartilage Delamination in Patients Having Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Surgery Requires a Single-Stage Solution

Acetabular cartilage delamination (ACD) can result in focal chondral defects, increasing contact stresses and contributing to osteoarthritis. This is commonly associated with femoroacetabular impingement, particularly with cam deformities due to shearing of the cam on the acetabulum. Additionally, ACD associated with labral tears or chondrolabral separation, when untreated, can compromise labral repair outcomes. ACD is often missed on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance arthrography, which show a sensitivity of <80%. Thus, given the ubiquity of ACD in patients undergoing femoroacetabular impingement surgery, a single-stage treatment option is essential. Acetabular shape, depth, and constraint, coupled with the thinness of acetabular cartilage, make treatment technically difficult, particularly arthroscopically. Treatment generally falls within 3 categories: repair, repair with augmentation, or cell-based cartilage transplantation. Currently, we most commonly employ primary repair and incorporate the cartilage flap into the labral repair.

Arthroscopic Minced Cartilage Implantation for Chondral Lesion at the Glenoid in the Shoulder: Technical Note

Joint cartilage damage is a common condition, and various approaches exist to address these defects. Whenever conservative treatments have been exhausted or are inadequate, surgery should be taken into consideration. However, it is essential to consider the size of the damage as well as the subchondral bone involvement. As joint replacement is not an appropriate treatment for young people, a joint-preserving technique should be preferred. One option is minced cartilage implantation. This surgical procedure is appropriate for defects of around 2 cm2. Studies demonstrated exceptional short-term and midterm outcomes in the knee and hip. This description of technique focuses on the implementation of AutoCart augmentation on the glenoid. The purpose of this note is to gain technical evidence of an all-arthroscopic cartilage implantation technique performed within the glenoid cavity.

[Autologous minced cartilage implantation for focal cartilage lesions of the humeral capitellum]

OBJECTIVE

The goal of minced cartilage implantation (MCI) is to restore an intact cartilage surface in focal osteochondral lesions of the humeral capitellum.

INDICATIONS

The indications for MCI are limited osteochondral lesions at the humeral capitellum, also at the head of the radius, with intact cartilage border as well as in situ or a completely detached fragment, and free joint bodies (grade II-grade V according to Hefti).

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindications for MCI are already concomitant or associated cartilage damage as well as bilateral osteochondral lesions and insufficient available cartilage material.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

After diagnostic arthroscopy to detect possible concomitant pathologies and to exclude already corresponding cartilage lesions, the arthroscope is flipped posterolaterally over the high posterolateral portal and a second portal is created under visualization via the soft spot. Initially, debridement of the focal cartilage defect, assessment of the marginal zone, and/or salvage of free joint bodies. Using a smooth shaver and the filter provided, the partially or even completely detached cartilage fragment is unidirectionally fragmented under continuous suction. The remaining defect with a stable marginal zone is cleanly curetted, and the joint is completely dried. The fragmented cartilage collected in the filter is bonded to a membrane using autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) and then arthroscopically applied to the defect via a cannula, sealed using thrombin and fibrin.

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Postoperative immobilization in a cast for at least 24 h is required. Afterwards, free exercise of the joint is possible, but no loading should be maintained for 6 weeks. Return to sport after 3 months.

RESULTS

Good to very good clinical and MRI morphologic results are already evident in the short-term course. Prospective and retrospective multicenter studies are needed to evaluate future long-term results.

Management of chondral and osteochondral lesions of the hip : A comprehensive review

Chondral and osteochondral lesions encompass several acute or chronic defects of the articular cartilage and/or subchondral bone. These lesions can result from several different diseases and injuries, including osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral defects, osteochondral fractures, subchondral bone osteonecrosis, and insufficiency fractures. As the cartilage has a low capacity for regeneration and self-repair, these lesions can progress to osteoarthritis. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the subject matter that it covers. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were accessed using the following keywords: "chondral lesions/defects of the femoral head", "chondral/cartilage lesions/defects of the acetabulum", "chondral/cartilage lesions/defects of the hip", "osteochondral lesions of the femoral head", "osteochondral lesions of the acetabulum", "osteochondral lesions of the hip", "osteochondritis dissecans," "early osteoarthritis of the hip," and "early stage avascular necrosis". Hip osteochondral injuries can cause significant damage to the articular surface and diminish the quality of life. It can be difficult to treat such injuries, especially in patients who are young and active. Several methods are used to treat chondral and osteochondral injuries of the hip, such as mesenchymal stem cells and cell-based treatment, surgical repair, and microfractures. Realignment of bony anatomy may also be necessary for optimal outcomes. Despite several treatments being successful, there is a lack of head-to-head comparisons and large sample size studies in the current literature. Additional research will be required to provide appropriate clinical recommendations for treating chondral/osteochondral injuries of the hip joint.

Minced Cartilage Implantation in Acetabular Cartilage Defects: Case Series with 2-Year Results

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to evaluate clinical outcome and safety of arthroscopic, autologous minced cartilage implantation for acetabular cartilage lesions observed during hip arthroscopy to treat femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS).

DESIGN

Eleven male patients, average age: 29.4 ± 5.4 years, average body mass index (BMI): 24.2 ± 2.2 kg/m2, scheduled for hip arthroscopy due to FAIS accompanied by an acetabular cartilage lesion were included in the case series. Cartilage tissue was harvested and minced from the loose cartilage flap at the chondrolabral lesion by arthroscopic shaver, augmented with autologous conditioned plasma, implanted into the defect, and fixated by autologous thrombin. Concomitant interventions were performed as indicated. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 24-month follow-up, using the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) grading scale at the 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

The defect size was on average 3.5 cm2 (1.5-4.5 cm2). From preoperatively to 2 years postoperatively, the iHOT-12 significantly improved from 50.2 ± 18 to 86.5 ± 19 (P < 0.0001), and pain score decreased from 5.6 ± 1.8 to 1.0 ± 1.5 (P < 0.0001) on the Visual Analog Scale pain score. Regarding functional outcome and pain, 10 of the 11 patients and all patients reached the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), respectively. The postoperative average MOCART score was 87.2 (± 9.2). No adverse events or reoperations were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic, autologous minced cartilage implantation for treating full-thickness acetabular cartilage lesions in FAIS shows statistically and clinically significant improvement at short-term follow-up.