Success Rate for ACI

The results of the cell implant procedure can be impressive. In some cases, patients with chronic knee pain (as long as 20 years) became pain free after the implant operative procedure. In some patients a hole in the femoral condyle (thigh side of the knee joint) that would have almost assuredly lead to osteoarthritis, was treated leading to no symptoms. ACI may well save the patient as much as 20 to 25 years without significant problems.

Statistics show that for the isolated lesion, there is a 92% success rate, for multiple lesions within the same knee compartment there is an 85% success rate. For people with kneecap problems there is an 85-87% success rate if done with an osteotomy procedure. These are important numbers because before this procedure existed, surgeons had no good options for these significant lesions. Beyond these impressive statistics, the cartilage grown and the procedure has been shown to be very durable. Doctors found the results at two years equal the results at 11 years. That means that the results do not deteriorate with time and therefore these procedures can offer long-term benefits for selected patients.