| Summary: | This report focuses on autologous chondrocyte transplantation as an alternative to the available strategies for managing cartilage defects include debridement or abrasion arthroplasty, subchondral drilling, and microfracture. These treatments are not always effective and, when they are, the benefits may not be long-lasting. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation uses a patient's own cartilage cells to repair traumatic damage to articular cartilage, and thereby improve joint function and reduce pain. The procedure involves collecting and producing an ex vivo culture of articular cartilage cells, which are implanted into the cartilage defect, where they contribute to regeneration and repair of the articular surface. Presently, there is only one company that produces ex vivo cell chondrocyte culture in the United States, and there is no indication that number will change in the near future
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