A groundbreaking medical technique is offering new hope for individuals suffering from knee cartilage damage due to injuries or osteoarthritis. Researchers have developed a method that utilizes a patient’s own nasal cartilage cells to repair damaged knee cartilage, potentially delaying or eliminating the need for joint replacement surgery.
The procedure involves extracting a small piece of cartilage from the patient’s nasal septum under local anesthesia. These cells are then cultivated in a laboratory setting, grown on a scaffold to form new cartilage tissue. Once matured, the engineered cartilage is shaped to fit the damaged area in the knee and surgically implanted.
In a study involving 98 patients aged between 19 and 59, nearly 90% experienced significant improvements in mobility, pain reduction, and overall quality of life. Notably, patients who received cartilage grafts matured for two weeks showed continued improvement even two years post-procedure, as confirmed by MRI scans.
Professor Ivan Martin of the University of Basel, a senior author of the study, emphasized the potential of this technique to revolutionize cartilage repair. He noted that patients treated with this method achieved higher long-term scores in joint functionality and quality of life compared to conventional treatments. The cost of the procedure is estimated between £5,000 and £6,700.
While the initial trials focused on patients with acute injuries, researchers are now expanding studies to include individuals with osteoarthritis. Preliminary results from six osteoarthritis patients have been promising. Two large-scale clinical studies, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the EU’s Horizon Europe research program, are underway to further assess the effectiveness of this treatment for broader applications.
This innovative approach could significantly impact the future of joint repair, offering a less invasive and more natural alternative to traditional knee replacement surgeries.
