2013 ISAKOS Congress : Early Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of a Randomized Trial Investigating Accelerated Weight-Bearing Rehabilitation Following Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

28 patients undergoing matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) in the medial or lateral femoral condyle were randomized to either receive the best practice protocol (8 weeks to full weight bearing) or an accelerated protocol for weight-bearing rehabilitation (6 weeks to full weight bearing) following MACI to evaluate the quality tissue repair as well as clinical outcomes. Results indicated no significant difference in quality repair tissue (assessed using MRI) between groups. In addition, there were significant improvements in pain, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS), SF-36 scores, and active knee extension in the accelerated weight-bearing protocol group at 3 months.