The structure of the matrix allows the cartilage to absorb shock and withstand shearing and compression forces. Normal hyaline cartilage also has an extremely low coefficient of friction at the articular surface. Damage to articular cartilage from acute or repetitive trauma often results in pain and disability. Partly because hyaline cartilage is avascular, spontaneous healing of large defects is not believed to occur in humans, though a variety of surgical procedures have been used in attempts to promote repair of cartilage. As cartilage heals after these procedures, fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage is most commonly produced.
Fibrocartilage has limited ability to withstand shock and shearing forces.
Patients in the Swedish series received an autologous cultured chondrocyte product which was produced slightly differently than Carticel , the U.S. product. The series consists of 153 consecutive patients who received autologous cultured chondrocyte implantations for various defects of the knee. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1 week to 94 months. Patients presented with cartilaginous defects of the femoral condyle, patella, tibia, a combination of these, or osteochondritis dissecans, with or without non-cartilaginous defects such as anterior cruciate ligament damage requiring repair. Following autologous cultured chondrocyte implantation, patients were routinely followed for various durations.