An Observational, Prospective Study of Patients With Chondral and/or Osteochondral Defects of the Knee Treated With NAMIC

Background: The treatment of chondral lesions remains a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. They are most common in young active individuals and result in substantial impairment of quality of life. The conventional joint treatment methods available to date, such as Pridie-type perforations, microfractures using open or arthroscopic approaches and mosaicoplasty are far from satisfactory. Cell-based therapies have also been tested in more advanced research centres.

Nanofractured autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (NAMIC) is a simple, easily reproducible implantation technique that can be performed in most hospitals to improve clinical outcomes of patients with severe chondral lesions.

The present observational, multicentre study is based on the recently published NAMIC© technique (Behrens_Bentin_06_2015 The Knee) that reports significant improvements over previous techniques, especially regarding the reduction of rehabilitation period. Our main aim is to confirm these results in a larger sample.

NAMIC is a matrix-guided minimally invasive stimulation of the subchondral bone marrow.

The present study will collect data on the usual medical practice when the NAMIC technique is used to treat grade III or IV symptomatic focal cartilage lesions.

According to Chen 2011 JOR 2011, nanofracture achieves a uniform blood drainage and pluripotential cell recruitment of the bone marrow through the depth of the 9mm perforations. As observed by Eldracher AJS 2014, it also allows a faster recovery thanks to the minimal aggression on the subchondral bone as the diameter of the drill holes is 1 mm.

According to the study published by Benthien JP, in Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2011 Aug:19(8):1316-9, AMIC induces satisfactory chondrogenesis.

To date, the combination of nanofracture plus Cartimaix membrane has not been used in patients in our environment.

Hypothesis: The NAMIC technique is useful for the treatment of chondral lesions of the knee.

Objectives:

Main: Determine the decrease of lesion size and the regeneration of chondral tissue in femoral condyle cartilage defect treated with NAMIC.

Secondary: Assess the clinical results regarding pain, articular rigidity and function before surgery and 12 months postoperatively.

Description of technique: After localization of the chondral lesion, the NAMIC technique consists in: debridement of damaged tissue, removal of calcified cartilage with retention of healthy surrounding vertical cartilage, minimally invasive subchondral bone marrow stimulation, nanofracture (Nano FX, Arthrosurface, USA), and a posteriori protect the lesion, stabilization of the clot, and facilitate stem cell adhesion and proliferation that migrate from the bone marrow with a type I/ III collagen and elastine membrane (Cartimaix, Matricel, Germany).

Nanofracture is a subchondral bone perforation procedure using a 1mm-thick needle, with a depth of 9mm, 2mm apart , in a systemic spiral fashion in the whole periphery of the lesion, using a specially-designed kit (Nano FX, Arthrosurface, USA). It allows a reproducible, effective and minimally invasive stimulation of the subchondral bone. Nanofracture achieves a uniform blood drainage and pluripotential cell recruitment of the bone marrow through the depth of the 9mm perforations.

Subsequently, the lesion is traced with a template included in the kit (Cartimaix, Matricel, Germany), and the membrane is cut to the adequate size, bearing in mind that it expands 10% with hydration. The two-layer membrane is then implanted on the lesion, and left to be hydrated by the blood from the stimulated area (Image 2). Cartimaix is a two-sided type I/ III collagen and elastine membrane that includes a smooth side (intraarticular) and a rough side facing the cartilage. Finally, fibrin sealing is achieved (Tissel, Baxter, USA). This technique can be combined with a graft in osteochondral injuries, but these are not contemplated in the present study.

Variables:

Main variable: Amount of tissue repaired, calculating the filling area of the lesion. Magnetic resonance will be used to determine the filling area at 12-month outpatient follow-up visit.

The following information will be collected: a) size and localisation of the lesion; b) alignment determined by telemetry; c) surgeries of cartilage or that may directly or indirectly affect cartilage such as meniscectomy, osteotomy, microfracture, mosaicoplasty or ligament repair.

A series of intraoperative pictures will be collected.

Secondary variables:

Pain: Visual analogue scale (VAS) Function and articular rigidity: KOOS scale, Tegner Activity Scale during routine outpatients visits, at preoperative visit and at 12 months.