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FOR DOCTORS

What is Articular Cartilage?

Articular cartilage is a highly specialized, uniquely designed biomaterial forming smooth gliding surface for diarthrodial joints.

Characteristics of Cartilage

  • Avascular (No blood supply)
  • A neural (No nerve supply)
  • A lymphatic matrix (No lymphatic supply)
  • Immunologically naïve (Natural and unaffected)

Types of Cartilage

There are three types of cartilage:

  • Hyaline - is most common, found in the ribs, nose, larynx, trachea and a precursor of bone.
  • Elastic - is found in the external ear, epiglottis and larynx.
  • Fibro - is found in invertebral discs, joint capsules, ligaments.

Functions of Cartilage

  • Helps support our weight, when we run, walk, bend and stretch
  • Allows smooth movement
  • Acts as shock absorber
  • Reduces friction between bones.

What is an Articular Cartilage Injury?

Cartilage has a poor blood supply unlike other tissue such as skin. Any injury to cartilage leads to underlying bones to rub against one another causing pain and inflammation.

Common symptoms of Cartilage Injury

Pain & swelling in affected joint

Typical 'clicking' sound

Stiff joints & sometimes locked joints

Restricted joint movement & rotation

Walking & climbing stairs becomes extremely painful

One has to discontinue jogging & sports

  • Articular cartilage has a limited capacity for intrinsic healing and repair.
  • Injury begins an inexorable cascade of events both chemical and then mechanical leading toward degenerative joint disease.
  • May progress to end stage arthritis.
  • If cartilage damage is left untreated, it will progress to Osteoarthritis (OA) and eventually, Joint Replacement.

About Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)

Cell therapies are in use for cartilage repair. ACI involves harvesting a biopsy of the patients cartilage, isolating & expanding the cells and re-implanting them into the defect site

History

  • Cartilage Cell Therapy was first invented in 1987 at University of Gothenburg, Sweden by Dr. Lars Peterson & Dr. Matts Brittberg. Now, recognized First Choice of treatment for full-thickness chondral defect.
  • More than 40,000 patients across the world have undergone treatment with Cartilage Cell Therapy in last 20 years for knee, ankle, hip & shoulder joints.
  • Results are supported in peer reviewed scientific publications by clinicians proving excellent results with reduction in pain and increase in patient activity levels.

Goal of Treatment

  • Restore smooth articular cartilage surface
  • Relieve patient symptoms and improve function
  • Match biomechanical/biochemical properties of normal hyaline cartilage
  • Prevent or slow progression of focal chondral injury to end- stage arthritis

ICRS Grading for Cartilage Injuries

Unmet Clinical need of Orthobiologic treatment

Biologic repair is now possible through Cell therapies such as Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

Case Reports

Our Process

Step 1

Cartilage Tissue Biopsy

Biopsy Manual

Step 2

Cartilage Cell Implantation

  • The cultured cells (48 million chondrocytes) are simply implanted onto the damaged area of the knee.
  • Immediate mobilization of the knee is encouraged which allows the cells to initiate its biological process of forming new cartilage tissue.
  • Through constantly guided physiotherapy including the muscle strengthening and load bearing capacity exercises, the new cartilage tissue formed becomes mechanically very robust allowing all activities including professional sports by 6months

Implantation Procedure:

  • Defect debridement
  • Curette up to sub-chondral bone
  • Edges should be sharp and remove all fibrous tissue from defect area
  • Drill hole 2-3 mm deep with 2 mm drill bit
  • 3 to 4 holes in per sq. cm
    • Pour saline on defect area to confirm gravity eliminated position.
  • Filling of defect area with final product
    • Slowly inject the gel onto the defect.
    • First fill the holes.
    • Then evenly distribute the cells by moving the injection central to peripheral and peripheral to central.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Implant Manual

Billing and Insurance

  • Government purchases can be made through direct purchase option on https://bit.ly/2LaAOWc 
  • All Regrow bills include transport and delivery kit charges.
  • Regrow invoice is submitted at the time of biopsy to private institutions.
  • Regrow products are covered by all private and Govt.insurance schemes.

To place the order or to know more about the product, please call :

Dr. Charul Bhanji
Technical Director
 9821186618

Mr. Amos Chopade
Medical Officer
 9619835838

Medical Education

Please refer to our academic library for peer reviewed International Publications on ACI

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Methylprednisolone Concentration on Human Chondrocyte Cell Metabolism in Vitro
An in Vitro Study on The Effects of Various Concentrations of Low and High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid on Human Chondrocyte Cell Metabolism
Gel Based Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation - The Surgical Technique
Gel-Based Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (GACI) in the Knee Multicentric Short Term Study
Osteochondral Lesions of the Talar Dome
Robust and Scalable GMP Manufacturing of Chondrocyte Cell Therapy for Cartilage Regeneration
Efficacy and safety of CARTIGROW® in patients with articular cartilage defects of the knee joint a four year prospective study
Gel-Based Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in a Patient with Non Contained Osteochondral Knee Defect at 9-Year Follow-Up
Treatment of large chondral lesions with big bony defects: the Overlay autologous chondrocyte implantation technique
The Knee - Outcomes following gel-based autologous chondrocyte implantation for articular cartilage defects of the knee

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