Knee Focalplasty for Partial Tibial or Femoral Resurfacing Using 3-Dimensional-Printed Titanium Implants

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials engineering
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Articular cartilage knee lesions are common, causing pain and activity limitations, especially in middle-aged patients.
• Existing cartilage repair methods have higher failure rates in this demographic.
• Total or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty may be unsuitable for active patients due to surgical morbidity and activity restrictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the implantation technique for Focalplasty, a novel minimally invasive procedure for focal chondral and osteochondral knee lesions.
• To highlight the use of 3D-printed porous titanium implants designed for bony ingrowth and immediate weight-bearing.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of the surgical technique for implanting tibial and femoral Focalplasty implants.
• Focus on application in focal tibiofemoral disease.
• Utilizes 3D-printed porous titanium implants facilitating osseous integration.

Main Results:

• The technique allows for immediate weight-bearing post-implantation.
• Porous titanium implants are designed for bony ingrowth, promoting biological fixation.
• Demonstrates a method for treating focal tibiofemoral cartilage defects.

Conclusions:

• Focalplasty provides a minimally invasive surgical option for focal knee cartilage lesions.
• The technique facilitates bony ingrowth and allows for immediate weight-bearing, potentially improving outcomes for active patients.
• This approach addresses limitations associated with traditional cartilage repair and knee arthroplasty.