Current Concepts in the Articular Cartilage Repair

ABSTRACT

Articular cartilage defects are common in orthopedic practice. Most clinical and research efforts focus on restoring the damaged cartilage in connection with osteoarthritis or trauma. This article explains the current clinical approaches for repairing cartilage, as well as the research approaches and those under translation into clinical practice. Tissue engineering techniques are being employed with aims of repopulating a cartilage defect with hyaline cartilage containing living chondrocytes with hopes of improving the clinical outcomes. Cartilage tissue engineering involves the cell source, biomaterial and membranes, and growth stimulators. Tissue engineering is being applied to clinical medicine by autologous chondrocyte implantation or similar techniques. While basic science has refined orthopedic treatment of chondral lesions, available evidence does not conclude the superiority of tissue engineering methods over other techniques in improving the clinical symptoms or restoring the native joint mechanics.