Episode 171: Next-Gen Knees: Modern Cartilage Restoration
Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference
🎧 Episode Summary
In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with cartilage restoration expert Dr. Travis Maak to discuss the modern surgical management of knee cartilage defects.
The conversation focuses on diagnostic workup, surgical decision-making, and cutting-edge cartilage restoration techniques, including Autocart, BioCartilage, and Cartiform.
Diagnostic Imaging - MRI is critical for:
Defect size and depth
Subchondral bone integrity and edema
Concomitant meniscal and ligament pathology
Surgical Decision-Making
Patient age & activity level
Lesion size, location, & containment
Subchondral bone involvement
Prior surgical history
Autocart (Autologous Minced Cartilage)
Single-stage autograft cartilage restoration technique
Uses patient’s own cartilage with PRP or BMAC
Key advantages:
Preserves native chondrocytes & extracellular matrix
Avoids staged procedures
Ideal for small-to-medium contained lesions
Outcomes:
Significant improvements in pain & function at ~5 years
~75% achieve clinically meaningful outcomes
Low reoperation rates
BioCartilage
Micronized cartilage extracellular matrix allograft scaffold
Used in combination with microfracture and biologics (PRP/BMAC)
Functions as a biologic bridge to enhance cartilage repair
Best for:
Small-to-medium, contained, full-thickness defects
Well-aligned, stable knees
Outcomes:
Improved pain and function at 2 years
Better repair tissue quality compared to microfracture alone
Cartiform
Cryopreserved osteochondral allograft with viable chondrocytes
Maintains native cartilage architecture
Indicated for:
Larger lesions (>2 cm²)
Defects with subchondral bone involvement
Advantages:
Single-stage procedure
Conforms to irregular defects
Key Takeaways
Cartilage restoration success depends on correcting biomechanics first
Procedure selection should be lesion-specific and patient-specific
Autocart offers a promising autograft solution with strong midterm data
BioCartilage fills the gap between microfracture and larger restoration procedures
Cartiform is a valuable option for larger defects and requires careful patient selection
Featured Guest
Dr. Travis Maak – University of Utah, Head Team Physician for the Utah Jazz, cartilage restoration and joint preservation specialist
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