What are carticel and autologous chondrocyte implantation (aci)?

ACI is a procedure that provides you and your doctor an option to repair articular cartilage injuries by implanting your own (Autologous) cultured cartilage cells (Chondrocytes) in damaged areas of your knee. These autologous cultured chondrocytes are called Carticel.

Carticel has demonstrated important benefits in patients with damaged articular cartilage. Carticel is indicated for the repair of symptomatic, cartilaginous defects of the joint surface, caused by acute or repetitive trauma, in patients who have had an inadequate response to a prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure. Carticel is not indicated for the treatment of cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.