Functional outcome in patients following cartilage regenerative treatement: outcome at minimum follow-up of 12 months

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Full thickness cartilage defects may be devastating for the patients. Even though, the surgical options have improved, only limited information for returning to sports. Aim of this study was therefore to compare the functional outcome and the return to sports rate of patients following cartilage regenerative treatment at a minimum follow up of 12 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 Patients (32 male, 18 female) undergoing cartilage regeneration using a Matrix-associated chondrocyte transplantation (MACT, Novocart, TETEC, Aesculap) (27 femorotibial, 23 patellofemoral) were evaluated at a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Follow-up was performed using a multifactorial functional analysis including isokinetic strength measurements (BTE-primus), proprioceptive tests (MTF tests), a tapping test and a 3d-motion analysis (myomotion, Noraxon) during single leg squats, bilateral drop jumps and single leg hop tests. Agility was assessed using a lateral speedchase (Globalspeed, Hemsbach). Clinical results were recorded using Tegner and Lysholm score. RESULTS: Patients showed a Lysholm score of 86,3 +/-10,3 and 84,0 +/-13,9 for male and female, respectively. The tegner score was significantly reduced when compared to preoperatively (male 4,72 +/-1,6, female 4,75 +/-1,5). Thigh circumference was reduced by an average of 3,6 cm for male and 4,4 cm for female patients. The tapping test revealed no differences between male and female patients providing a leg symmetry index (LSI) of 102,0 (+/-8,4) with an overall average frequency of 10,14 (+/-1,27). During single leg squat male patients had a significantly lower knee flexion of 55,8 (+/-8,5) of the postoperative leg compared to the non-injured leg (62,2 +/-8,2) whereas the knee abduction was -6.8 (+/-15,1) and -11,8 -11,82 (+/-16,6) for the postoperatively and non-injured leg, respectively. Evaluating the single leg hop, the LSI of distance values was 90,8 (+/-11,9) and for height values 84,0 (+/-16,0) for the male patients. There was a trend towards reduced ROM with regard to knee flexion of the injured leg to the non-injured. Cutting time during lateral speedchase showed a LSI of 98,29 (+/-13,8) and 99,44 (+/-8,2) for male and female patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: This prospective analysis of patients following cartilage regeneration implicates that the use of a multifactorial “return-to-sports” analysis 12 months postoperatively provides a good correlation to the clinical outcome and scores. At this FU point, Patients following MACT show knee joint function that is close to normal.