LAUSR

Objective Osteochondral lesions of the knee affect patients from all age groups with arthroscopic microfracture being the current gold standard of treatment of such lesions. Autologous collagen-induced chondrogenesis (ACIC) is a novel procedure that has recently been gaining popularity. This study aims to compare the 6 and 24 month post-operative outcomes between patients undergoing microfracture only and microfracture with ACIC. Methods Patients from both groups were assessed pre-operatively, at 6 and 24 months post-operatively for functional outcomes using SF-36 and IKDC scoring (International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form). Results Both groups showed improved SF-36 and IKDC scores at 6 and 24 months, however patients who underwent ACIC showed better SF-36 mental component and IKDC scores 24 months after surgery. Conclusion This demonstrates that ACIC is an effective, single-stage, joint-preserving procedure which is comparable, if not better, in treating chondral defects.