Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is widely used to treat symptomatic articular cartilage injury of the knee. Fibrin ACI is a new tissue-engineering technique for the treatment of full-thickness articular cartilage defects, in which autologous chondrocytes are inserted into a three-dimensional scaffold provided by fibrin gel. The objective of this study is to document and compare mean changes in overall clinical scores at both baseline and follow-up. Fibrin ACI was used to treat deep cartilage defects of the femoral condyle in 30 patients. There were 24 men and 6 women with a median age of 35 years (range 15-55) and with a mean defect size of 5.8 cm(2) (range 2.3-12). Clinical and functional knee evaluations were performed using different scoring systems, MRI was performed 24 months postoperatively, and arthroscopy was performed 12 months postoperatively. All patients achieved clinical and functional status improvements following surgery (P < 0.01). The mean scores of the Henderson classification (MRI evaluation) significantly improved from 14.4 to 7 (P = 0.001), and no graft-associated complications were noted. Arthroscopic assessments performed 12 months postoperatively produced nearly normal (grade II) International Cartilage Repair Society scores in 8 of the 10 study patients. Fibrin ACI offers the advantages of technical simplicity, minimal invasiveness, a short surgery time, and easier access to difficult sites than classical ACI. Based on the findings of this clinical pilot study, we conclude that fibrin ACI offers a reliable means of treating articular cartilage defects of the knee.

PurposeThis study examined the rate of degeneration of acetabular cartilage by the bipolar head according to time, and also which clinical factors are related to the degeneration of acetabular cartilage.Materials and MethodsAmong 192 patients (226 hip joints) who received bipolar hemiarthroplasty from August 1996 to August 2002, 61 patients (65 hip joints) were enrolled in this study, who were followed up for more than 2 years and showed no signs of dislocation, infection, or functional problems. A modified form of a computer assisted vector wear analysis program was used to measure the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. The factors that appeared to affect the rate of acetabular degeneration in the two groups was evaluated.ResultsThe average linear degenerative change in the acetabular cartilage and the volumetric degenerative change were 0.23 ± 0.107 mm/year and 114 ± 47.2 mm3/year, respectively. The result showed significant differences in activity and HHS between the 2 groups. The HHS showed a reverse relationship with the linear degeneration and volumetric degeneration, and the activity showed a correlation with the linear and volumetric degeneration.ConclusionThe acetabular cartilage degenerates faster as the patient' activity increases, and slower with a higher HHS. When surgeons perform hip joint arthroplasty, it is strongly recommended that the life expectancy and the level of activity should be considered when deciding between a hemiarthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.

PurposeThis study was performed to determine the usefulness of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in measuring periacetabular osteolysis by comparing the real volume of osteolysis in revision surgery.Materials and MethodsTwnety-three patients who had undergone revision surgery due to periacetabular osteolysis but not included septic osteolysis and implant loosening. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 55.2 years. And the mean time interval between the primary total hip arthroplasty and revision surgery was 13.3 years. We measured the polyethylene wear in plain radiographs using computer assisted vector wear analysis program, the volume of acetabular osteolytic lesions in high-resolution spiral CT scans using Rapidia 3D software version 2.8 algorithms before the revision surgery were performed. Intraoperative real osteolytic volume was calculated as the sum of the volumetric increments of the acetabular cup and impacted allo-cancellous bone volume.ResultsStrong correlation was found between the volume of acetabular osteolytic lesions measured on 3D-CT and intraoperative real osteolytic volume which was calculated as the sum of the volumetric increments of the acetabular cup and impacted allo-cancellous bone volume.Conclusion3D-CT is considered a useful method for assessing and measuring the volume of periacetabular osteolysis before revision surgery.

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