J Rheum Dis.  2012 Jun;19(3):125-131. 10.4078/jrd.2012.19.3.125.

Stem Cell Therapy in Articular Cartilage Injury

• Yoon HM
• Kim SJ
• Kim TG

• KMID: 2223093
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2012.19.3.125

Abstract

The natural history after articular cartilage injury is unclear. However, it is generally accepted that once articular cartilage is injured, its ability to regenerate is limited and that injury progresses to arthritis with time. Over the years various treatments have been developed and are used, such as arthroscopic debridement, microfracture, multiple drilling, osteochondral transfer, and Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI). These can be divided into treatment methods which apply cells and those which apply tissue. The former include abrasion chondroplasty, microfracture, multiple drilling, and ACI. The latter include osteochondral transfer and allograft. Combination treatments using both cells and tissues are new-generation ACI and microfracture with biomaterials. The clinical applications of stem cell therapy is still at an early stage, but shows much promise, particularly in the management of cartilage defects.

Keyword

Cartilage; Stem cell; ACI; Microfracture; Knee

MeSH Terms

Arthritis
Biocompatible Materials
Cartilage
Cartilage, Articular
Chondrocytes
Debridement
Knee
Mandrillus
Natural History
Stem Cells
Transplantation, Homologous
Biocompatible Materials

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 (A) Microfracture using metal awl. (B) Arthroscopic finding of microfracture. (C) Bone marrow bleeding through holes of microfracture.

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  Figure 2 (A) Cutting collagen membrane during AMIC procedure. (B) Attaching collagen membrane onto the cartilage defect.

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  Figure 3 ACI: autologous chondrocyte implantation.

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  Figure 4 (A) Severe arthritic findings. (B) Operation findings after gel type ACI.

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