Table 1.
Indications for optimal use and characteristics producing suboptimal outcomes for the different cartilage repair strategies
| Technique | Optimal use | Suboptimal outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Marrow stimulation | • Age < 40 years | • Age > 40 years |
| • Focal contained | • Uncontained | |
| • Femoral condyles | • Patellar lesions | |
| • Lesion size < 4 cm2 | • Lesion size > 4 cm2 | |
| Osteochondral autograft | • Femoral lesions < 2.5 cm2 | • Patellar lesions |
| • Bipolar lesions | ||
| • Lesions with bone loss | ||
| Osteochondral allograft | • Lesions with bone and cartilage loss | • Bipolar lesions |
| • Large uncontained lesions | • Diffuse osteoarthritis | |
| Cultured chondrocytes | • Chondral lesions > 2 cm2 | • Large geographic lesions |
| • Bipolar lesions |