CO2 Insufflation in Cartilage Repair Using Minced Autologous Cartilage, Platelet-rich Plasma, and Autologous Thrombin: Enhancing Techniques for Repairing Knee Articular Cartilage Defects.

Injuries to the articular cartilage are challenging to treat because of its limited intrinsic healing capacity, leading to the exploration of various repair methods. The AutoCart technique combines minced autologous cartilage, platelet-rich plasma, and autologous thrombin, with promising clinical results. A key advancement is the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during arthroscopy, which creates a dry environment and significantly improves the accuracy of defect preparation and graft placement. Unlike traditional fluid distention, CO2 insufflation prevents biologically active components of the graft from being washed away, allowing for precise placement and integration within the cartilage defect. Furthermore, it reduces fluid accumulation and leakage into the surrounding soft tissue. In this Technical Note, we describe a technique for performing AutoCart cartilage repair using CO2 insufflation, highlighting its advantages over conventional fluid-based methods.