[Autologous chondrocyte transplantation--progress or misleading development in high-tech medicine?]

Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a recently developed procedure for repairing chondral defects of the knee. An analysis of the literature provides no evidence so far for regular regeneration of hyaline cartilage, and no randomized controlled studies are available showing a long-term efficacy. Therefore, controlled randomized studies are urgently needed. At present, ACT cannot be recommended for extended application in clinical practice.