Transferring viable cartilage plugs means that the defect now has a new cartilage covering, although the gaps may fill with less robust fibrocartilage.
Transferring viable cartilage plugs means that the defect now has a new cartilage covering, although the gaps may fill with less robust fibrocartilage.
How do they do a mosaicplasty?
Via a mini-arthrotomy incision the bone and cartilage plugs are taken with a small corer, similar to an apple corer. The preparation of the recipient bed to exactly the right depth and the press-fitting of the mosaic of cores is performed via arthroscopy. The patient is kept non-weightbearing on crutches for up to 4 weeks.