Increased Failure Rate of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation after Previous Treatment with Marrow Stimulation Techniques

Abstract

Defects that had prior treatment affecting the subchondral bone failed at a rate 3 times that of nontreated defects. The failure rates for drilling (28%), abrasion arthroplasty (27%), and microfracture (20%) were not significantly different, possibly because of the lower number of microfracture patients in this cohort (25 of 110 marrow-stimulation procedures). The data demonstrate that marrow stimulation techniques have a strong negative effect on subsequent cartilage repair with autologous chondrocyte implantation and therefore should be used judiciously in larger cartilage defects that could require future treatment with autologous chondrocyte implantation.