ACI is an abbreviation for 'autologous chondrocyte implantation'.
Page updated September 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Healthy cartilage is removed from a relatively unimportant part of the joint and cultured in a laboratory.
A membrane is created by harvesting a bit of the connective tissue covering the bone, and sewn over the defect in the bone. The cultured cells are then injected behind it.
Cartilage defects
ACI is a mainstream surgical procedure for localised full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee.
Synonyms:
autologous chondrocyte implantation
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