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All About
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)
Symptoms
Patients with damage to the cartilage in a joint (articular cartilage damage) will experience
- Inflammation - the area swells, becomes warmer than other parts of the body, and is tender, sore, and painful.
- Stiffness.
- Range limitation - as the damage progresses, the affected limb will not move so freely and easily.
Articular cartilage damage most commonly occurs in the knee, but the elbow, wrist, ankle, shoulder, and hip joint can also be affected.
In severe cases, a piece of cartilage can break off, and the joint can become locked. This can lead to hemarthrosis (bleeding in the joint); the area may become blotchy and have a bruised appearance.
Causes
Direct blow - if a joint receives a heavy impact, perhaps during a bad fall or an automobile accident, the cartilage may be damaged. Sportspeople have a higher risk of suffering from articular damage, especially those involved in high impact sports like American football, rugby, and wrestling.
Wear and tear - a joint that experiences a long period of stress can become damaged. Obese individuals are more likely to damage their knee over a 20-year period than a person of normal weight, simply because the body is under a much higher degree of physical stress. Inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints is known as osteoarthritis.
Lack of movement - the joints need to move regularly to remain healthy. Long periods of inactivity or immobility increase the risk of damage to the cartilage.
More about Treatment
Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a relatively new, state-of-the-art procedure used to treat isolated full-thickness (down to bone) articular cartilage defects of the knee. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cartilage defects located at the end of the femur bone (thigh). ACI has also been performed for defects of the patella (knee cap) in addition to other joints of the body. Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a two-stage operative procedure.
FAQ on this Treatment
What is an autologous chondrocyte implantation?
Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a technique that is very effective in the treatment of the damaged and diseased area of a joint through the implantation of cartilage cells in it.
Why is ACI done?
Any damage to the joint cartilage or even the bone underlying it, doesn’t repair easily itself leading to joint pain and difficulty in movement. ACI is done for regeneration of the cartilage and treatment of the loss of movement across the joint.
When is ACI recommended?
ACI is recommended in younger patients with joint pain, swelling and difficulty in movement due to damage to cartilage or both bone and cartilage
What happens if damage to the cartilage is not treated?
Due to damage from any sort of trauma, there might be joint pain and difficulty in movement. If left untreated, it can lead to osteoarthritis.
What is the success rate of ACI?
The success rate of ACI is excellent in terms of long term results. The cartilage is repaired as well as the normal activity of the joint returns.
How is ACI done?
In ACI, a few cartilage cells are taken, usually from the knee and are then grown in the lab. Once a large number of cells are grown ,they are implanted in the area of damage.