AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE IMPLANTATION IN BRAZIL

• Published in: Acta ortopedica brasileira Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 131 - 136
• Main Authors: Giglio, Pedro Nogueira, Lizier, Nelson Foresto, Levy, Débora, Sobrado, Marcel Faraco, Gobbi, Riccardo Gomes, Pécora, José Ricardo, Bydlowski, Sergio Paulo, Demange, Marco Kawamura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil ATHA EDITORA 01.05.2020; Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia
• Subjects: Cartilage; Celland Tissue-Based Therapy; Chondrocytes; Original; ORTHOPEDICS; Transplantation, Autologous; Cartilage; Transplantation, Autologous; Celland Tissue-Based Therapy; Chondrocytes; Terapia Baseada em Transplante de Células e Tecidos; Cartilagem; Condrócitos; Transplante Autólogo
• ISSN: 1413-7852; 1809-4406; 1809-4406
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-785220202803226503

To describe the first series of cases of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in collagen membrane performed in Brazil. ACI was performed in 12 knees of 11 patients, aged 32.1 ± 10.9 years, with 5.3 ± 2.6 cm full-thickness knee cartilage lesions, with a six-month minimum follow-up. Two surgical procedures were performed: arthroscopic cartilage biopsy for isolation and expansion of chondrocytes, which were seeded onto collagen membrane and implanted in the lesion site; the characterization of cultured cells and implant was performed using immunofluorescence for type II collagen (COL2) for cell viability and electron microscopy of the implant. Clinical safety, KOOS and IKDC scores and magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated. We used repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc comparisons at α = 5%. COL2 was identified in the cellular cytoplasm, cell viability was higher than 95% and adequate distribution and cell adhesion were found in the membrane. The median follow-up was 10.9 months (7 to 19). We had two cases of arthrofibrosis, one of graft hypertrophy and one of superficial infection as complications, but none compromising clinical improvement. KOOS and IKDC ranged from 71.2 ± 11.44 and 50.72 ± 14.10, in preoperative period, to 85.0 ± 4.4 and 70.5 ± 8.0, at 6 months (p = 0.007 and 0.005). MRI showed regenerated tissue compatible with hyaline cartilage. ACI in collagen membrane was feasible and safe in a short-term follow-up, presenting regenerated formation visualized by magnetic resonance imaging and improved clinical function. .