Biologics in Knee Surgery

Cartilage Repair

Cartilage defects in load-bearing joints often result in pain and functional limitations due to the tissue’s poor intrinsic healing capacity.

AutoCart™ All-Autologous Cartilage Repair

AutoCart offers a single-stage treatment for symptomatic articular cartilage defects.

Superior to microfracture³

AutoCart delivers clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function.

AutoCart™ All-Autologous Cartilage Repair

Scientific Insights

Ten studies have demonstrated promising short- to mid-term outcomes for treating focal cartilage defects with the AutoCart technique.

Clinical studies confirm AutoCart delivers significant improvements in knee cartilage repair, with benefits maintained at 1 and 2 years:

Good clinical and radiological outcomes^1-10
(VAS, KOOS, IKDC, Tegner, MOCART 2.0)
Superior to microfracture³
Comparable to AMIC and MACI^5,9*

_{*AMIC: autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis
*MACI: matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation}

References

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Key Takeaways

AutoCart is a safe treatment method that delivers clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function
Short-term outcomes are comparable to established cartilage restoration methods

Study Limitations

No long-term studies (>24 months) available
Lack of high-level evidence

AutoCart™ All-Autologous Cartilage Repair

References

Blanke F, Warth F, Oehler N, Siegl J, Prall WC. Autologous platelet-rich plasma and fibrin-augmented minced cartilage implantation in chondral lesions of the knee leads to good clinical and radiological outcomes after more than 12 months: A retrospective cohort study of 71 patients. J Exp Orthop. 2024;11(4):e70051. doi:10.1002/jeo2.70051
Schneider S, Ossendorff R, Walter SG, et al. Arthroscopic autologous minced cartilage implantation of cartilage defects in the knee: a 2-year follow-up of 62 patients. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024;12(12):23259671241297970. doi:10.1177/23259671241297970
Wein F, Ferri C, Peduzzi L, Barbaret A, Walbron P. Arthroscopic minced cartilage implantation provides superior clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes compared to microfracture in patellar cartilage defects. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi:10.1002/ksa.12800
Barbaret A, Wein F, Jacquet C, Ollivier M. One-stage minced cartilage autograft with platelet-rich plasma improves early clinical outcomes: A multicentric retrospective study. J Exp Orthop. 2025;12(1):e70162. doi:10.1002/jeo2.70162
Schneider S, Linnhoff D, Ilg A, Salzmann GM, Ossendorff R, Holz J. Comparison of three different techniques for the treatment of cartilage lesions—matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) versus autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) and arthroscopic minced cartiage—a 2-year follow-up on patient-reported pain and functional outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(7):2194. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072194
Mayr J, Warth F, Oehler N, Majewski M, Lutter C, Blanke F. Treatment of large chondral lesions with an autologous minced cartilage technique and synovial flap leads to superior results compared to matrix associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation technique after 24 months: a controlled clinical trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025; 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/ksa.12708
Sujit Jos, Vyas Vijayakumar, Bobby Paulose, Kiran Benny, Athish James, Arthroscopic autologous minced cartilage implantation for one stage reconstruction of chondral lesion of the femoral condyle of the knee joint: Surgical decision making and short term outcome with review of literature- case report, Journal of Orthopaedic Reports, Volume 4, Issue 3, 2025, 100414, ISSN 2773-157X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorep.2024.100414.
Ivković, A., Črep, M. & Pećina, M. (2024). Simultaneous autologous minced cartilage implantation and open wedge high tibial osteotomy in the treatment of knee cartilage defect. Hrvatski športskomedicinski vjesnik, 39 (1), 40-45. https:// doi.org/10.69589/hsv.39.1.6
Oettl FC, Leuthard L, Brunner M, et al. Correlation and comparative evaluation of MOCART and MOCART 2.0 for assessing cartilage repair. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(4):745. doi:10.3390/medicina61040745
Pohl S, Mühler M, Zimmerer A, Schoon J, Wassilew GI, Gebhardt S. Clinical and radiological 2-year results after autologous shaver-based minced cartilage implantation for cartilage lesions of the knee. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2025;145(1):465. doi:10.1007/s00402-025-06010-8

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GraftNet™ Device

Collects autologous bone and cartilage for tissue repair and graft augmentation

Arthrex ACP® System

Produces 100% autologous PRP for tissue healing and regeneration

Thrombinator™ System

Rapidly generates autologous thrombin serum to enhance graft handling; produces platelet-rich fibrin with the addition of PRP

OsteoAuger™ System

Harvests autologous bone for healing and remodeling in fractures or fusions; fast and reproducible

Meniscal Repair

Meniscal tears are common, and successful repair is critical for joint preservation and long-term function. However, healing is often limited by poor vascularity in the meniscus, especially in the avascular zone.

Enhancing Meniscal Repair With Platelet-Rich Plasma

Biological augmentation aims to enhance healing, reduce failure rates, and improve functional outcomes.

15-30%

higher meniscal healing rates^1,2,7

Evidence supports PRP as a safe and effective adjunct for meniscal repair, especially in complex or avascular tears.

Enhancing Meniscal Repair With Platelet-Rich Plasma