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Clinical and Quality of Life Outcomes of a Combined Synthetic Scaffold and Autogenous Tissue Graft Procedure for Articular Cartilage Repair in the Knee


 Background: Injuries to the articular cartilage of the knee often fail to heal properly, due to the hypocellular and avascular nature of this tissue. Subsequent disability can limit participation in sports and decrease quality of life. Subchondral bone perforations are used for the treatment of small defects. Larger lesions filling out the central portion becomes difficult, and scaffolds can be used as adjuvants, providing a matrix onto which the defect can be filled in completely and also autogenous cartilage grafts can be combined, acting as an inducer and improving healing quality, all in a single procedure.Methods: Evaluate the clinical and quality of life outcomes of patients with articular cartilage lesions of the knee undergoing repair via a microfracture technique combined with a synthetic scaffold and autogenous cartilage graft, with transosseous sutures and fibrin glue fixation, at 12 months of follow-up. Secondarily, assess whether combined procedures, previous surgical intervention, traumatic aetiology, lesion location, and age affect outcomes. Observational study of adult patients (age 18–66 years) with symptoms consistent with chondral or osteochondral lesions, isolated or multiple, ICRS grade III/IV, 2–12 cm2 in size. Patients with corrected angular deviations or instabilities were included. Those with BMI > 40 kg/m2, prior total or subtotal (> 30%) meniscectomy, second-look procedures, and follow-up < 6 months were excluded. Pain (VAS), physical activity (IKDC), osteoarthritis (WOMAC), and general quality of life (SF-36) were assessed.Results: 64 procedures were included, comprising 60 patients. There was significant improvement (P < 0.05) in VAS (5.92 to 2.37), IKDC score (33.44 to 56.33), and modified WOMAC score (53.26 to 75.93) after surgery. The SF-36 showed significant improvements in the physical and mental domains (30.49 to 40.23 and 46.43 to 49.84 respectively; both P < 0.05).Conclusions: Combination of microfractures, autogenous crushed cartilage graft, synthetic scaffold, and transosseous sutures with fibrin glue provides secure fixation for treatment of articular cartilage lesions of the knee. At 12-month follow-up, function had improved by 20 points on the IKDC and WOMAC, and quality of life by 10 points on the SF-36. Age > 45 years had a negative impact on outcomes.