Articular cartilage delamination at eight years following cellular‐based repair procedures: a case reports

Abstract

Abstract This report describes two cases of late cartilage delamination in two young adults after two different autologous cell‐based techniques for cartilage restoration: 1. Matrix‐assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) and 2. Hyaluronic acid‐bone marrow aspirate concentrate (HA‐BMAC). Both cases demonstrate that even in patients who do not present with any ongoing symptoms after primary surgery, a cellular‐based graft’s subsequent delamination can occur later. It is possible that regardless of the technique used or the time passed since the surgery, a graft failure may occur at some level, causing delamination of a previously asymptomatic cartilage restoration graft and a traumatic event with long‐term follow‐up. Surgeons must be alert to this injury and describe histologic findings to determine where failure occurs.