Cartilage Emerging Allograft Technologies

Chondral lesions have improved clinical outcomes when the cartilage layer is restored with hyaline-like cartilage as opposed to fibrocartilage. Restoration of hyaline-like cartilage in chondral defects has been achieved using autologous chondrocyte implantation and matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation for larger chondral defects (>4 cm²) but requires a 2-stage surgical approach. Single-stage allograft options such as cryopreserved viable osteochondral allograft, viable cartilage allograft matrix, and juvenile articular cartilage allow for single-stage surgical treatment of these cartilage lesions with good short-term to mid-term results in clinical trials.