Treatment of Chondral Defect of the Knee Joint - Current Methods, Possibilities of Using Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Cartilage damage is caused by degenerative process and also by trauma, microtrauma or as a consequence of avascular necrosis. The damage may be focal or diffuse over a larger area. Because of the limited healing potential, treatment of articular cartilage injuries is problematic. The choice of surgical treatment depends on several factors: the size, depth and location of the defect, the age of the patient, the desired activity, associated changes and the possibility of postoperative rehabilitation. Finding an appropriate method of treatment for chondral defects with a reliable long-term outcome is difficult. The most common, clinically proven and used surgical techniques include abrasive chondroplasty, marrow stimulating techniques, transplantation procedures or a combination of methods. The possibility of introducing new methods in the form of the application of cultured mesenchymal stem cells represents a significant advance in the field of regenerative medicine. Their use is safe and effective.