Osteochondral autologous graft transfer

It is reasonable to assume that the closer cartilage repair comes to restoring hyaline cartilage, the more durable the repair tissue. However, the choice of surgical techniques that can restore and maintain hyaline cartilage is very limited. At present, osteochondral autograft transplantation seems to be the only surgical technique that can simultaneously restore the height and share of the articulating surface in osteochondral defects, with composite autologous material that contains all the necessary ingredients: hyaline articular cartilage, intact tidemark, and a firm carrier in the form of its own subchondral bone. However, like many orthopedic procedures that require the use of autologous tissues, this is a "rob Peter to pay Paul" situation. Consequently, the main limitation of this technique is the availability of autologous grafts. The size and depth of the defects are other significant limiting factors. The dead spaces between circular grafts, the integration of donor and recipient hyaline cartilage, different positions, and the thickness and mechanical properties of donor and recipient hyaline cartilage are additional clinical concerns over the long term.