Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: Surgical Technique and Outcomes

Chondral defects of the knee are frequently encountered during arthroscopy. For symptomatic lesions, several surgical options exist. Determining the best surgical option for a patient can be challenging for the treating surgeon. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is an articular cartilage–restoring procedure that is commonly used to treat medium-to-large full-thickness cartilage lesions of the knee. It is a 2-stage procedure requiring cartilage biopsy, 4-6 weeks of in vitro chondrocyte expansion, followed by reimplantation. Short- and long-term outcome studies have been promising regarding patient satisfaction and durability. Realignment procedures, as indicated, have been shown to improve clinical outcome and longevity of the transplanted grafts. As newer generation techniques evolve, complications have been minimized.