Twenty-eight patients with symptomatic isolated cartilage lesions of the knee were randomized to receive autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI; n=15) or arthroscopic debridement (AD; n=13). The primary outcome of interest was the change in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) quality of life (QoL) subscale. Secondary outcomes included KOOS subscales (pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sports/recreation), Tegner score, Lysholm score, and visual analog scale for pain. Outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed that while both groups improved, the AD group had statistically significantly better results in several KOOS subscales, including QoL, at 2 years. This suggests that AD followed by physiotherapy may be as effective or superior to ACI for knee cartilage lesions over this time frame.