2025 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster
Viability Of Chondrocytes And Radiological Evaluation Using Mri Mapping Of The Cartilage In Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Transplants In Knee Femoral Condyles.
Maria Victoria Pomenta, MD, Barcelona, Barcelona SPAIN
Sergio Celi, MD , Tenerife SPAIN
Dragos Popescu, MD, PhD, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona SPAIN
Jaime Isern-Kebschull, MD, PhD, Barcelona SPAIN
Montsant Jornet, MD, PhD, Barcelona SPAIN
Pere Torner, MD, Barcelona SPAIN
Andrei Popescu ROMANIA
Sergi Sastre Solsona, MD, PhD, Barcelona, Catalonia SPAIN
Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, SPAIN
FDA Status Not Applicable
Summary
Good viability of FOCA evaluated through immunohistochemical methods via biopsy and MRI T2 mapping.
ePosters will be available shortly before Congress
Abstract
Introduction
Fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation (FOCA) is a valid technique for treating osteochondral lesions in the knee. The viability of chondrocytes and the integration of the graft are key factors for the success of this procedure. The use of advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI Mapping, allows for a non-invasive evaluation of cartilage integrity. However, the viability of the transplant can be analyzed through immunohistochemical methods via biopsy.
Objectives:
To evaluate the viability of chondrocytes and the integration of fresh osteochondral allografts through histological studies, and to correlate these findings with the images obtained from MRI mapping.
Methods
A total of 10 patients diagnosed with osteochondral lesions in the knee femoral condyles diagnosed by MRI were included in this study. They all underwent FOCA procedure. Clinical follow up was performed using functional scales every 3 months (KSS, modified Merlé d’Aubigné, KOOS) and X-rays at sixth and twelfth months post-surgery. One year after surgery, a MRI with cartilage mapping and a biopsy of the allograft was performed. The viability of the implanted chondrocytes was evaluated with confocal fluorescence microscopy. For quantitative T2 mapping, regions of interest were drawn in the deep and superficial layers of allograft and control cartilage.
Results
Histological analyses showed a high viability of chondrocytes in the majority of cases, above 72% (p ≤ 0.05). The MRI Mapping accurately identified areas of cartilage integrity and degeneration, showing a significant correlation with histological results. There was no difference between the mean T2 values in the deep zone of the allograft and control cartilage at one year (p < 0.01), but mean T2 values were higher in the superficial zone of the allograft cartilage (p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement in functional outcomes in all patients. No correlation was found between functional and radiological outcomes.
Conclusions
Fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation in knee femoral condyles proves to be a viable technique, with a high chondrocyte viability rate and good graft integration, with positive clinical and functional results one year after implantation. The MRI mapping is a valuable tool for non-invasive evaluation of cartilage integrity and transplant viability. Graft integration was complete in all patients.