Novel Treatment Options for Knee Cartilage Defects in 2023

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Regenerative medicine
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Articular cartilage lesions are common and increasingly treatable with joint preservation.
• Existing treatments include allografts and cellular therapies.
• Novel approaches are needed for complex cartilage defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review three unique, emerging treatment options for articular cartilage lesions.
• To highlight advancements in joint preservation procedures.
• To discuss novel therapeutic pathways for chondral and osteochondral defects.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of Agili-C: an FDA/EMEA-approved aragonite-based scaffold for chondral and osteochondral lesions.
• Overview of Cartistem: a stem cell therapy (mesenchymal stem cells) in US clinical trials, approved in Korea.
• Presentation of a one-stage procedure using autologous chondrons and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based on IMPACT and RECLAIM studies.

Main Results:

• Agili-C offers a treatment for various cartilage lesions, with or without arthritis.
• Cartistem shows promise as a stem cell-based treatment, with established use in Korea.
• The one-stage procedure combining autologous chondrons and MSCs demonstrates safety and efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Multiple novel treatment avenues are emerging for articular cartilage defects.
• These options represent diverse strategies, including scaffolds, cell therapies, and combined procedures.
• Advancements in joint preservation provide new hope for patients with cartilage injuries.