[Autologous chondrocytes transplantation]

Hunter's observation in 1743 that cartilage "once destroyed, is not repaired" has not essentially changed for two and a half centuries. At present, there is no well-established procedure for the repair of cartilage defect with articular cartilage. Transplantation of human autologous chondrocytes in suspension, as reported by Brittberg et al., provided a potential procedure for articular cartilage repair. We have improved their procedure and developed a new technique, which creates new cartilage-like tissue by cultivating autologous chondrocytes embedded in atelocollagen gel for 3 weeks before transplantation. Good clinical results suggest that this technique should be a promising procedure for repairing articular cartilage defect.