Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in the Patellofemoral Joint

Cartilage restoration, in general, is a relatively new option for the treatment of articular cartilage lesions primarily of the knee. In the initial autologous cultured chondrocyte transplantation (ACT or, by others implantation, thus ACI) reported by Peterson et. al., the results of femoral lesions were favorable, while 5 of 7 patellofemoral treatments were poor. In the United States, the expedited FDA approval based on these results excluded the patella. As a result, in the United States, it has been difficult to further evaluate use of ACI at the patellofemoral joint in light of the exclusion of "off label" uses by many governmental and private insurance programs. Nevertheless, a growing body of knowledge is accumulating outside the United States that the use of ACI at the patella is a viable option and soon similar findings will be published in the US by Minas et. al. (accepted for publication)