Experimental findings on minced cartilage

Minced cartilage is a relatively new and promising procedure for the treatment of cartilage defects. Autologous cartilage is harvested from the patient, minced, and typically introduced into the defect in combination with autologous blood products. Clinical studies have shown favorable outcomes after short-term (2 years) and mid-term (5 years) follow-ups. The approach, however, varies significantly between studies. Differences include the method of mincing (scalpel, shaver), the use of scaffolds, and the augmentation with autologous blood products. Experimental studies have addressed various related questions. The migration of chondrocytes from the cartilage chips and their proliferative potential has been confirmed in several studies. The use of membranes appears to be superior to the use of gels. However, regarding the influence of the mincing technique on cell viability, studies have shown contradictory results. The type of mincing (scalpel or shaver) likely has different effects on cartilage cells. Further studies should focus primarily on this question.