Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2015, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (24): 3916-3923.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.24.027

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Autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture for treating cartilage defects of the knee: a Meta-analysis 

Cheng Cong1, Ren Shi-you2, Jiang Xiao-cheng2, Jiang Chang-qing2, Zhang Wen-tao2   

  1. 1Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China; 
    2Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518036, Guangdong Province, China
  • Online:2015-06-11 Published:2015-06-11
  • About author:Cheng Cong, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A few studies have reported that autologous chondrocyte implantation is better than microfracture for treating cartilage defects of the knee. But there are few meta-analyses on the clinical outcomes of autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee based on existing clinical data.  
METHODS: A systematic search for controlled clinical trials or controlled prospective observational studies published from 1979 to January 2015 was done in electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register, Wanfang, CNKI and VIP. The literatures about the effects of autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee were retrieved. We screened the retrieved literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and performed a Meta-analysis 
with the software RevMan 5.2 after identification of the relevant data. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Eight studies were enrolled according to the selection criteria, which revealed a statistically significant difference, representing a clinically relevant superiority of autologous chondrocyte implantation over microfracture, in IKDC scores at final follow-up [weighted mean difference (WMD), -9.93; 95% confidence interval (CI): -13.16 to -5.43; P < 0.000 01] and available scores at 5-year follow-up [standard mean difference (SMD), -0.30; 95%CI: -0.55 to -0.05; P=0.02). In contrast, there were no significant differences, thus representing no clinical relevant superiority of microfracture versus autologous chondrocyte implantation, in Tegner scores at final follow-up (WMD=0.44; 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.84; P=0.03), Lysholm scores at final follow-up (WMD=-10.21; 95%CI: -33.68 to 13.26; P=0.39), and available scores at 2-year follow-up (SMD=-0.25; 95%CI:-0.92 to 0.43; P=0.47). These findings demonstrate that autologous chondrocyte implantation can result in a better long-term outcome than microfracgure. However, whether autologous chondrocyte implantation has a better treatment effect than microfracture in general needs more research.

 

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