What is Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a surgical treatment that repairs damaged joint cartilage using the body’s own cartilage cells.

This method was developed specifically to treat cartilage damage in the knee joint and offers a long-term solution for young and active patients. ACI is a biologically natural treatment option as it creates new cartilage using the body’s own cells.

How is ACI Applied?

ACI is applied in a two-stage process:

1. Collection of Cartilage Cells: In the first stage, the surgeon removes a small piece of cartilage from the patient’s knee. This is usually done with arthroscopic surgery. This tissue sample is multiplied in the laboratory and thousands of new cartilage cells are obtained. This process usually takes 4-5 weeks.

2. Transplantation of Cells (Implantation): In the second stage, the cartilage cells grown in the laboratory are implanted into the damaged area. This is done with open surgery. After cleaning the damaged cartilage area, the surgeon implants the grown cartilage cells. The cells, encased in a membrane, are carefully placed to fill the damaged area.

Who is suitable for ACI?

Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a suitable treatment option, especially for young and middle-aged patients. Conditions where ACI is most effective:

– Large and Isolated Cartilage Damage: ACI gives successful results when cartilage damage is localized in a specific area and bone tissue is not damaged.

– Young and Active Individuals: It is a suitable treatment method for patients under the age of 50 who have an active and mobile lifestyle.

– Previously Failed Treatments: ACI offers an alternative for patients for whom other surgical or non-surgical treatment methods have failed.

ACI is not suitable for patients with advanced osteoarthritis or extensive cartilage loss. In these patients, other surgical options may be considered.

Postoperative Recovery Process

The healing process after autologous chondrocyte implantation requires a long and careful follow-up. It is important that patients follow the postoperative instructions exactly to ensure a successful outcome.

1. Early Recovery: For the first few weeks after surgery, patients should avoid putting any load on the knee using crutches. Ice therapy and keeping the knee elevated is usually recommended to protect the knee and reduce swelling.

2. Physical Therapy: The most critical phase of recovery is postoperative physical therapy. First, range of motion of the knee is restored and then muscle strengthening exercises are applied. These exercises, performed without overloading the knee, help the cartilage cells to settle properly and integrate with the joint.

3. Long-term recovery: In this process, the patient should avoid heavy physical activities and stick to the exercise program determined by the doctor. It is usually possible to return to sports and daily activities safely after 9-12 months.

Advantages of ACI

The major advantage of ACI is that it repairs cartilage using the patient’s own cells. This eliminates the risk of the body rejecting the new tissue and ensures high biocompatibility. It also offers an effective long-term solution for patients with large cartilage lesions.

Conclusion

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a highly effective and innovative way to treat cartilage damage. Particularly suitable for young and active patients, this treatment uses the body’s own cells to regenerate damaged cartilage.

When the post-operative rehabilitation process is carefully followed, ACI can give patients pain-free and comfortable mobility. If you have damaged knee cartilage, you can contact our specialists to learn about treatment options.