Autologous chondrocyte implantation and anteromedialization in the treatment of patellofemoral chondrosis.

Abstract

Patellofemoral articular cartilage lesions are challenging to treat. While treatment with tibial tuberosity anteromedialization (AMZ) is effective for isolated distal lateral patellar lesions, other patellar or trochlear lesions have suboptimal outcomes with AMZ. Historically, when autologous cultured chondroctye implantation (ACI) was used at the patellofemoral compartment without optimizing the contact areas, the results were poor. In recent years, the combination of AMZ and ACI has yielded overall outcomes superior to either technique used in isolation for large patellar and trochlear chondral lesions.