Objective:

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of microfracture therapy (MF) versus implantation of autologous chondrocytes (MACI) in the management of chondral lesions of the knee ≥ 3 cm2 and follow up to 12 months post treatment.

Material and methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2017. Patients with one or more chondral lesions in knee ≥ 3 cm2 were included to compare MF versus MACI therapy for the repair of chondral lesion. Clinical and functional evaluations were carried out prior to the surgical treatment and 12 months later, with measurement of the range of motion, EVA, Oxford scale and Lequesne index.

Results:

Twelve patients were included in MF and 12 patients in MACI. The most frequent lesion was located in the Patella in eight patients (67%). It showed an increase in the arcs of motion, as well as improvement in the comparison between baseline and follow-up at 12 months: in EVA, MF demonstrated 48.4% and MACI 57.5% (p ≤ 0.05); Oxford scale: MF 32.65% and MACI 51.04% (p ≤ 0.05); index of Lequesne: MF 40.12% and MACI 50%. Two cases of joint effusion were presented in MACI, which were resolved with the realization of arthrotomies.

Conclusion:

In this study, significant improvement was demonstrated in MACI with pain relief, functionality, and range of motion compared to the treatment of MF in lesions ≥ 3 cm2 of the articular cartilage of the knee after one year of follow-up.