Autologous Cartilage Transfer

Autologous chondrocyte transfer is a treatment for defects in the articular cartilage that lines the joint. It involves taking a sample of normal cartilage from inside the knee and sending it to a lab to be cultured. Here the cells are multiplied in the culture before reimplantation into the knee under a flap of membrane that is sutured over the defect. The cells then implant into the area producing a new articular cartilage covering to the bone.