[Current treatment for cartilage damage in the patellofemoral joint]

Joint cartilage damage in adults has practically no tendency to self healing. Symptomatic grade III/IV damage requires surgical treatment. There are special challenges involved in cartilage damage in the patellofemoral joint as the complicated biomechanics of the joint is often combined with dysplasia. All tissue regeneration measures are based on the recruitment of cells. The synovial cells available in the joint can be differentiated to fibrous cartilage under certain mechanical conditions; however, they cannot sufficiently fill in defects. Also the use of bone marrow cells for cartilage reconstruction only creates mechanically inferior fibrous cartilage (Pridie drillings, microfracture, AMIC). Presently only cultivated, autologous chondrocytes from the lab are available for a biomechanically high-quality reconstruction of the cartilage layer.The application of mesenchymal stem cells is a subject of extensive international research. However, the first experimental studies, after initial formation of cartilage, disappointingly show significant ossification. Essential conditions for a successful treatment of patellofemoral cartilage damage are the diagnosis of accompanying pathological conditions, selection of the right cartilage-regenerating procedure, sufficient removal of the basic pathological defect, and implementation of standardized rehabilitation.