Millions of people worldwide suffer pain and limited mobility as a result of damage to articular cartilage, most commonly in the knee and ankle. Unfortunately, unlike muscle or bone, damaged cartilage has a limited capacity for self-repair.
Orthocell’s Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (OrthoACI™) offers treatment for symptomatic defects of the articulating cartilage of the joints. OrthoACI™ uses the patient’s own healthy cartilage cells, called chondrocytes, to assist in the regeneration of damaged cartilage. OrthoACI™ is a highly customized treatment – each procedure is tailored to the individual patients’ requirements. OrthoACI™ is not available for sale, distribution, or clinical use in the United States.
How It Works
OrthoACI™ is a two-stage procedure. A biopsy of healthy articular cartilage using keyhole surgery is taken and sent to Orthocell’s quality-controlled laboratory where the chondrocytes are isolated and grown under controlled conditions for approximately 5 weeks. The cells are loaded on a custom-designed cell delivery scaffold which is implanted into the damaged joint by the orthopaedic surgeon through a small incision or keyhole surgery. The scaffold creates the optimal environment for the implant chondrocytes to begin regenerating new cartilage.
A rehabilitation program to gradually increase weight-bearing over a six-week period is essential to ensure the success of OrthoACI™. Return to sport and recreational activities should also be staged over the first six to nine months following OrthoACI™. This staged increase in intensity of activities protects the newly developing cartilage and allows cartilage maturation process to occur undisturbed.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Take a biopsy of healthy articular cartilage from a non-weight bearing region.
Step 2
Send the biopsy to Orthocell’s quality-controlled facility for cell isolation and cultivation of the chondrocyte cells.
Step 3
Securely transfer the cells back to the treating physician.
Step 4
Prepare the site by confirming that the area has healthy cartilage margins to facilitate integration and regeneration after implantation.
Step 5
Gently dispense the cells onto the rough side of the collagen scaffold, ensuring the area is evenly covered.
Step 6
Use a sterile foil template to make an impression of the defect.
Step 7
Place the foil template on the cell-loaded scaffold and cut to size with scissors.
Step 8
Position the scaffold rough side facing the subchondral plate and apply sealant.
Step 9
Once the collagen scaffold is in place, put the joint through a range of motion to ensure the graft is securely positioned.
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