Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI)CARTIFRACNCT07657871
Comparison of Minced Cartilage Implantation Versus Microfracture for Acetabular Chondral Lesions Due to FAI (Femoro-acetabular Impingement)
A study testing Minced cartilage implantation - MCI and Microfracture in people with Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI), run by GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche at 2 sites in France.
Trial summary
A femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an abnormal contact between pelvis and the neck of femur. It occurs particularly when patient bends his hip and causes damage to the cartilage. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI)
- What is being tested?
- Minced cartilage implantation - MCI and Microfracture
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 180 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesFrance
- Study dates
- Jul 2026to Jun 2031
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patient, male or female, aged 18-50 years old;
- Patient with an acetabular chondral lesion due to FAI, characterised as Beck class 4 or 5, measuring 1-6 cm2;
- Patient with Tönnis grade 0-2;
- Patient who signed the informed consent form and is willing to comply with the protocol requirements based on the investigator's judgment;
- Patient affiliated with a social security scheme;
- Patient able to answer questionnaires and to communicate freely in French
Who cannot join
- Patient with prior ipsilateral hip surgery;
- Patient with borderline or frank hip dysplasia (lateral centre edge angle <25º);
- Patient with hyperlaxity (Beighton score >7);
- Patient with any concomitant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the patient at risk or may influence the result of the study;
- Patient that is pregnant or breastfeeding;
- Patient with protected status under articles L1121-6, LL121-8 and L1122-2 of the French Public Health Code;
- Patient who cannot comply with the protocol requirements based on the investigator's judgment
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France2 sites
Clinique De La Sauvegarde
Lyon, 69009
Nicolas BONIN, MD, + 33 4 72 20 00 00, dr.bonin@lyon-ortho-clinic.com
ICOSS
Strasbourg, 67100
Michel RAHME, MD, +33 6 84 49 41 20, dr.mrahme@gmail.com
About this study
A femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an abnormal contact between pelvis and the neck of femur. It occurs particularly when patient bends his hip and causes damage to the cartilage. In the long term, FAI can lead to the development of osteoarthritis (cartilage destruction) and may require a total hip replacement (THR).
Surgery to treat cartilage damage in the hip aims to maintain joint function and delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Microfracture remains the most commonly used treatment for cartilage lesions. It is a surgical technique for repairing articular cartilage that works by creating tiny fractures in the bone, which in turn stimulate the growth of new cartilage.
Read more
Cartilage autografting is a promising alternative to microfracture, offering good results in the knee joint. Cartilage autografting involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue (taken from patient body), which is harvested, ground up and reimplanted in a single surgical procedure to promote the growth of new cartilage and repair.
The published literature lacks large-scale studies comparing autologous cartilage transplantation with traditional joint-preserving surgeries, such as microfracture. This is the reason why this study is set up.
Read the detailed description
Patients with femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) often develop acetabular chondral lesions, which can impair joint function and reduce quality of life. If left untreated, chondral lesions can progress to osteoarthritis and thus require total hip arthroplasty.
Joint preservation surgeries for the treatment of hip chondral lesions, aim to maintain joint function and delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Microfracture remains the most commonly used treatment for chondral lesions.
Although microfracture is the reference surgical treatment for acetabular chondral lesions, several clinical studies and systematic reviews have reported higher rates of conversion to THA and lower patient-reported outcomes for microfracture compared to other techniques. Furthermore, microfracture can weaken subchondral bone and increase the formation of subchondral cysts, which may explain its inferior outcomes.
Minced cartilage implantation (MCI) has emerged as a promising alternative to microfracture, providing good outcomes in the knee joint. MCI involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue, which is harvested, minced, and re-implanted in a one-stage surgery to promote chondrogenesis and repair. Only one published study has reported on outcomes of MCI in the hip joint, showing good results for 11 male patients with FAI at 2 years follow-up. Therefore, the published literature lacks large-cohort studies that compare MCI to traditional joint preservation surgeries, such as microfracture.
This is the reason why this Clinical Study is set up. The hypothesis is that MCI will provide better short- to mid-term outcomes than microfracture in patients with acetabular chondral lesions due to FAI.
- Conditions
- Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI)
- Being tested
- Minced cartilage implantation - MCI, Microfracture
- Keywords
- FAI, Minced cartilage implantation, microfracture
- Medical subject headings
- Femoracetabular Impingement, Fractures, Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Minced cartilage implantation - MCIProcedure or surgery
Autologous minced cartilage will be harvested from the defect site and cam deformity area using a non-aggressive shaver blade . The cartilage will then be collected and augmented with platelet-rich plasma from the patient's blood. The platelet-rich plasma will be 100% autologous. Cautious debridement of the chondral lesion up to the stable chondral margins will be performed, followed by removal of the calcified subchondral bone layer, then the minced cartilage will be implanted on the acetabular chondral lesion using an application cannula.
MicrofractureProcedure or surgery
Microfracture surgery is a surgical technique that works by creating tiny fractures in the underlying bone. This stimulates the growth of new cartilage.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MCI group | Experimental | MCI involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue, which is harvested, minced, and re-implanted in a one-stage surgery to promote chondrogenesis and repair Receives: Procedure: Minced cartilage implantation - MCI |
| Microfracture group | Active comparator | Microfracture surgery is a surgical technique for repairing joint cartilage Receives: Procedure: Microfracture |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12)
The iHOT-12 is a validated self-administered questionnaire that measures health-related quality of life and changes after hip preserving treatments, in young active patients with hip disorders [13]. The questionnaire comprises 12 items, covering four domains: (i) symptoms and functional limitations, (ii) sport and recreational activities, (iii) job-related concerns, and [14] social, emotional, and lifestyle concerns. Each item is scored using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 100, with a score of 100 being the best function and least amount of symptoms. The final iHOT score is calculated as the overall mean of all 12 items, ranging from 0 to 100
Measured: One year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2026
- Study startJul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJun 2031 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la RechercheThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07657871
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-A00200-51
- Acronym
- CARTIFRAC
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Minced Cartilage Implantation Versus Microfracture for Acetabular Chondral Lesions Due to FAI (Femoro-acetabular Impingement)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07657871
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CARTIFRAC / 2026-A00200-51
- Conditions
- Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI)
- Keywords
- FAI, Minced cartilage implantation, microfracture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la RechercheUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an abnormal contact between pelvis and the neck of femur. It occurs particularly when patient bends his hip and causes damage to the cartilage. In the long term, FAI can lead to the development of osteoarthritis (cartilage destruction) and may require a total hip replacement (THR).
Surgery to treat cartilage damage in the hip aims to maintain joint function and delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Microfracture remains the most commonly used treatment for cartilage lesions. It is a surgical technique for repairing articular cartilage that works by creating tiny fractures in the bone, which in turn stimulate the growth of new cartilage.
Cartilage autografting is a promising alternative to microfracture, offering good results in the knee joint. Cartilage autografting involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue (taken from patient body), which is harvested, ground up and reimplanted in a single surgical procedure to promote the growth of new cartilage and repair.
The published literature lacks large-scale studies comparing autologous cartilage transplantation with traditional joint-preserving surgeries, such as microfracture. This is the reason why this study is set up.
Detailed description
Patients with femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) often develop acetabular chondral lesions, which can impair joint function and reduce quality of life. If left untreated, chondral lesions can progress to osteoarthritis and thus require total hip arthroplasty.
Joint preservation surgeries for the treatment of hip chondral lesions, aim to maintain joint function and delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Microfracture remains the most commonly used treatment for chondral lesions.
Although microfracture is the reference surgical treatment for acetabular chondral lesions, several clinical studies and systematic reviews have reported higher rates of conversion to THA and lower patient-reported outcomes for microfracture compared to other techniques. Furthermore, microfracture can weaken subchondral bone and increase the formation of subchondral cysts, which may explain its inferior outcomes.
Minced cartilage implantation (MCI) has emerged as a promising alternative to microfracture, providing good outcomes in the knee joint. MCI involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue, which is harvested, minced, and re-implanted in a one-stage surgery to promote chondrogenesis and repair. Only one published study has reported on outcomes of MCI in the hip joint, showing good results for 11 male patients with FAI at 2 years follow-up. Therefore, the published literature lacks large-cohort studies that compare MCI to traditional joint preservation surgeries, such as microfracture.
This is the reason why this Clinical Study is set up. The hypothesis is that MCI will provide better short- to mid-term outcomes than microfracture in patients with acetabular chondral lesions due to FAI.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MCI group | Experimental | Procedure: Minced cartilage implantation - MCIMCI involves the use of autologous cartilage tissue, which is harvested, minced, and re-implanted in a one-stage surgery to promote chondrogenesis and repair |
| Microfracture group | Active comparator | Procedure: MicrofractureMicrofracture surgery is a surgical technique for repairing joint cartilage |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patient, male or female, aged 18-50 years old;
- Patient with an acetabular chondral lesion due to FAI, characterised as Beck class 4 or 5, measuring 1-6 cm2;
- Patient with Tönnis grade 0-2;
- Patient who signed the informed consent form and is willing to comply with the protocol requirements based on the investigator's judgment;
- Patient affiliated with a social security scheme;
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patient with prior ipsilateral hip surgery;
- Patient with borderline or frank hip dysplasia (lateral centre edge angle <25º);
- Patient with hyperlaxity (Beighton score >7);
- Patient with any concomitant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the patient at risk or may influence the result of the study;
- Patient that is pregnant or breastfeeding;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Minced cartilage implantation - MCIAutologous minced cartilage will be harvested from the defect site and cam deformity area using a non-aggressive shaver blade . The cartilage will then be collected and augmented with platelet-rich plasma from the patient's blood. The platelet-rich plasma will be 100% autologous. Cautious debridement of the chondral lesion up to the stable chondral margins will be performed, followed by removal of the calcified subchondral bone layer, then the minced cartilage will be implanted on the acetabular chondral lesion using an application cannula. | Procedure or surgery | MCI group |
| MicrofractureMicrofracture surgery is a surgical technique that works by creating tiny fractures in the underlying bone. This stimulates the growth of new cartilage. | Procedure or surgery | Microfracture group |
Primary outcome
International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12)
Time frame: One year
The iHOT-12 is a validated self-administered questionnaire that measures health-related quality of life and changes after hip preserving treatments, in young active patients with hip disorders [13]. The questionnaire comprises 12 items, covering four domains: (i) symptoms and functional limitations, (ii) sport and recreational activities, (iii) job-related concerns, and [14] social, emotional, and lifestyle concerns. Each item is scored using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 100, with a score of 100 being the best function and least amount of symptoms. The final iHOT score is calculated as the overall mean of all 12 items, ranging from 0 to 100
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Minced cartilage implantation - MCI and Microfracture in people with Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI), run by GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche at 2 sites in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nicolas BONIN, MD (+ 33 4 72 20 00 00, dr.bonin@lyon-ortho-clinic.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) (time frame: One year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jun 2026.