Osteochondral autotransfer--newer treatment for chondral defects

Osteoarthritis is believed to be accelerated by full thickness defects of articular cartilage. This article describes emerging therapies, including mosaicplasty autologous (i.e., the patient's own) graft and autologous chondrocyte implantation techniques. Patients with chondral defects caused by a variety of possible pathologies experience positive implications, including return to normal function and delaying the onset of osteoarthritis.