Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Joint Preservation Center?
- What are Carticel and Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)?
- What is Fibrocartilage?
- What is Hyaline Cartilage?
WHAT IS THE JOINT PRESERVATION CENTER?
The Joint Preservation Center (JPC) is a cooperative effort of the Arlington Orthopedic Associates, the Surgery Center of Arlington, and Medical Center of Arlington. One of only ten such centers in the United States, it was created to provide options to patients with knee injury or pathology. Injuries to the joint surface, instabilities or angular problems are addressed. Options to repair the joint rather than replace the joint are evaluated. One of the more unique operative options is Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI). This operation repairs localized injuries in the knee joint. The JPC has helped pioneer clinical research in this area and is one of the leading centers in the United States.
WHAT ARE CARTICEL AND AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE IMPLANTATION (ACI)?
ACI is a procedure that provides you and your doctor an option to repair articular cartilage injuries by implanting your own (Autologous) cultured cartilage cells (Chondrocytes) in damaged areas of your knee. These autologous cultured chondrocytes are called Carticel.
Carticel has demonstrated important benefits in patients with damaged articular cartilage. Carticel is indicated for the repair of symptomatic, cartilaginous defects of the joint surface, caused by acute or repetitive trauma, in patients who have had an inadequate response to a prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure. Carticel is not indicated for the treatment of cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.
WHAT IS FIBROCARTILAGE?
Many other treatment options try to repair the knee by forming a type of repair tissue called fibrocartilage. Fibrocartilage may hold up in smaller lesions that are protected from heavy weight loading. However, in larger lesions, fibrocartilage is not durable enough to withstand the forces within the knee and breaks down over time. Fibrocartilage usually lasts about 3-5 years after which patients with active life styles may be subject to further surgery or a possible increase incidence of arthritis.
WHAT IS HYALINE CARTILAGE?
Articular Cartilage also known as Hyaline cartilage is a durable tissue that covers the ends of the thigh, shinbones and the knee cap. Articular Cartilage can last a lifetime if undamaged. Unfortunately, it can be injured by sports, traumatic injuries, work injuries, repetitive trauma secondary to incorrect training techniques or in some cases daily wear and tear. Articular Cartilage damage can occur in conjunction with damage to another area of the knee, for example, with injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament or the Meniscus. Articular Cartilage does not have a natural ability to heal itself. Carticel has the ability to repair defects or injury in the knee with hyaline cartilage, a key difference from many other repair techniques.