Fibrin, a homologous polymer, is the natural scaffold of wound healing and therefore a candidate as a carrier for cell transplantation.
We explored a novel matrix-based implant cartilage repair composed of both fibrin and hyaluronan in a defined ratio that takes
advantage of the biological and mechanical properties of these two elements. The matrix was seeded with autologous chondrocytes
expanded in the presence of a proprietary growth factor variant designed to preserve their chondrogenic potential. We prospectively
followed eight patients with symptomatic-chronic cartilage defects treated with this carrier. Patients had arthroscopy to
harvest autologous chondrocytes then grown in autologous serum. Chondrocytes were cultured in the presence of the FGF variant
and then seeded on the fibrin-hyaluronan matrix. About 4 weeks following biopsy, the patients underwent implantation of the
constructs by miniarthrotomy. Three of the eight patients had transient effusion. Clinical performance was measured by Lysholm
and IKDC scores, MRI, and the need for secondary surgery. The clinical outcome of a 1-year followup demonstrated increase
of clinical scores. The MRI followup showed good filling of the defect with tissue having the imaging appearance of cartilage
in all patients. Apart from the transient effusion in three patients we observed no other adverse events during the followup.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
One or more of the authors (SN) certifies that he or she has received funding from ProChon to support this project. Two of
the authors (AY, HB) are salaried employees of ProChon.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study
was obtained.