Fig. 3.

Arthroscopic evaluation of the knee joint and identification of full-thickness damage on the medial femoral condyle. A cartilage specimen is biopsied from the superior part of the intercondylar notch, digested, and cultured. ACI is performed after the cells have reached a volume that can fill the articular cartilage defect. (Reproduced, with permission of Elsevier, from: Minas T. A primer in cartilage repair and joint preservation of the knee. Expert consult. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2011.)