Arthroscopic Autologous Minced Cartilage Implantation for Degenerative Medial Femoral Condyle Lesions of the Knee

Degenerative cartilage lesions of the knee have been increasingly diagnosed in the population, with a multitude of treatment options available. This article describes an arthroscopic single-stage minced cartilage implantation technique for the treatment of degenerative medial femoral condyle cartilage lesions. The technique involves arthroscopic debridement of the cartilage lesion, microfracture of the subchondral bone, harvesting healthy cartilage from nonweightbearing surfaces, mixing the minced cartilage with autologous platelet-rich plasma, and applying this biological composite to the lesion before sealing it with commercial fibrin glue. The advantages of this approach include its single-stage nature, avoidance of cell culture requirements, and readily available autologous chondrocytes. This technique provides a cost-effective, minimally invasive solution for treating degenerative cartilage lesions in patients seeking to avoid or delay more complex reconstructive procedures or joint replacement surgery.