[Cartilage repair: cell-based techniques]

The field of cartilage repair continues to advance after cell based and single-stage chondrocyte transplantation technologies. These strategies have been widely used in developed countries, and clinical, histologic and functional outcomes are of special interest.

To describe evidence of cartilage repair techniques by means of a literature review.

Cartilage restoration through osteochondral allografting or autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) had proven efficacy, but technical and biologic limitations to these procedures exist. However, newer second-generation and third-generation cell-based technologies are being developed and tested clinically with purposes of decreasing operative morbidity, the ability to use a single-stage approach, and improve the viability and durability of cartilage repair tissue. These techniques can be used for treatment of important chondral defects in young patients and elite athletes, but well-designed randomized clinical trials should be done to confirm the value of these procedures.