Dr. Mark Pagnano is among a small group of surgeons nationwide who do the procedure called an autologous chondrocyte implant. The procedure involves removing healthy cartilage and sending it to a lab, where cartilage cells are grown in culture. The cultured cells are sent back to the surgeon and implanted into the damaged area. Eventually, they take hold and grow new cartilage. Until now, we have had no good options to offer people who damage the weight-bearing cartilage of the knee.
Patients can expect a long recovery.
Eight weeks on crutches is the norm, followed by months of restricted activity, and up to two years before going back to activities that involve a lot of twisting and turning. The procedure has proven successful for knee injuries, but it is not approved for use in other joints, such as the hip and shoulders. It also cannot be done in people whose knees already are eroded by arthritis. For Fechtmeyer, optimism is plentiful. His implantation surgery went well, and physical therapy is an integral part of his daily life now.