Researchers conducted a 5-year evaluation of 41 patients after MACI to the knee. After surgery and a 12-week structured rehabilitation program, the patients underwent clinical assessments and MRI at three months, one year, two years and five years after surgery.
A significant improvement was seen in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score over the postoperative timeline. There was also significant improvement for the MRI composite score. Five years after the surgery, 67 percent of the MACI grafts demonstrated complete infill, and 89 percent of them demonstrated good to excellent filling of the chondral defect.
At the five year follow-up, 98 percent of the patients were satisfied with the ability of MACI surgery to relieve pain; 86 percent were satisfied in the improvement in their ability to perform normal daily tasks; and 73 percent were satisfied with their ability to return to sporting activities.
Read the abstract about the MACI.
Read other coverage on sports medicine studies:
– Study Finds Posterior Approach More Accurate for Glenohumeral Joint Injections
– UPMC Researchers Study Correlation Between ACL Repair Surgery and Knee Arthritis
