Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI or Carticel)
For this procedure, a small piece of cartilage is harvested and grown in the lab. 4-6 weeks later, the new cartilage is implanted into the knee to repair a cartilage defect.
This video demonstrates aspects of the ACI procedure.
Osteochondral allograft transplantation
In this procedure, bone and the attached cartilage from an organ donor is transplanted to repair cartilage damage.
Autologous osteochondral transfer (OATS or Mosaicplasty)
Small cylinders of bone and attached cartilage are harvested from a part of the patients knee that is more peripheral, and then implanted into the more centrally located damaged area of the same knee.
This video demonstrates harvesting of an OATS plug.
