[Diagnostic imaging after autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Correlation of magnetic resonance tomography, histological and arthroscopic findings].
Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a newly therapy option for treatment of cartilage damage. Since 1996 we performed the ACT in 10 patients with 14 cartilage damages. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method for postoperative controlling the transplantation area. The MRI showed in the first 3-6 months postoperatively signal irregularities with partial gadolinium uptake at the transplantation site. Arthroscopically the transplantation site was spongy, when it was probed and at the histological examination there was a hyalinlike appearance of the cells. 1 year postoperatively it seemed that process of reparation was finished. There was no more Gadolinium-uptake at the transplantation site and the borders of the transplant were hardly visible. The histological examination revealed hyalinlike repair tissue with a more columnar appearance of the cells. The Lysholm Score improved from 78 to 92 points, 1 year postoperatively.
Burkart
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Imhoff
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D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006818:Hyalin / Q000378:metabolism; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*