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July 07, 2023
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Laser-etched allograft may have positive short-term results in articular cartilage defects

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Key takeaways:

  • Researchers found a laser-etched osteochondral allograft had positive short-term outcomes on isolated articular cartilage defects.
  • There were significant increases in multiple SF-36, IKDC and KOOS categories.

Results published in Journal of Orthopedic Surgery showed that a thin, laser-etched osteochondral allograft yielded positive short-term clinical outcomes in isolated articular cartilage defects in the knee.

“This study demonstrates encouraging early outcomes with an acceptable revision rate in the treatment of symptomatic articular cartilage lesions using a laser-etched osteochondral allograft,” Vishal M. Mehta, MD, FAAOS, president of Fox Valley Orthopedics Institute, and colleagues wrote.

Knee pain
A laser-etched osteochondral allograft had positive short-term outcomes on isolated articular cartilage defects. Image: Adobe Stock

Mehta and colleagues collected demographic and intraoperative data, as well as IKDC, SF-36, KOOS, VAS and Tegner scores, of 18 patients with isolated, symptomatic, full-thickness articular cartilage lesions who underwent marrow stimulation followed by placement of a thin, laser-etched osteochondral allograft (ProChondrix, Allosource). Researchers compared preoperative data with postoperative data at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months.

Vishal M. Mehta
Vishal M. Mehta

Results showed statistically significant increases in SF-36 physical functioning, energy/fatigue, social functioning and bodily pain subscores at a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. In addition, researchers found statistically significant increases in subjective IKDC scores and KOOS categories of function-sports and recreational activities and quality of life after follow-up. Researchers also found statistically significant decreases in VAS scores after follow-up.

“The study shows statistically significant increases in outcome when compared preoperatively and lends promise to further widespread research and treatment of focal cartilage defects with ProChondrix and other similar allograft,” the researchers wrote in the study.

The researchers added, “A larger, multicenter study with longer follow-up is necessary to better understand the results of ProChondrix in a broader population and to help determine its durability over a longer period of time, as well as comparing ProChondrix with other allograft procedures to determine its efficiency.”