Two-Year Follow-Up and Remodeling Kinetics of ChonDux Hydrogel for Full-Thickness Cartilage Defect Repair in the Knee.

OBJECTIVE: To determine performance and repair kinetics of the ChonDux hydrogel scaffold for treating focal articular cartilage defects in the knee over 24 months. DESIGN: This assessor-blinded trial evaluates ChonDux hydrogel scaffold implantation in combination with microfracture in 18 patients across 6 sites. Male and female patients 18 to 65 years of age with full-thickness femoral condyle defects 2 to 4 cm2 in area were enrolled. Eligible patients received ChonDux treatment followed by rehabilitation. Defect volume fill was evaluated after 3, 6 (primary outcome), 12, 18, and 24 months by assessor blinded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. Secondary outcomes were T2-weighted MRI relaxation time and patient surveys via visual analogue scale (VAS) pain and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee function scoring. RESULTS: ChonDux maintained durable tissue restoration over 24 months with final defect percent fill of 94.2% ± 16.3% and no significant loss of fill volume at any time points. Tissues treated with ChonDux maintained T2 relaxation times similar to uninjured cartilage between 12 and 24 months. VAS pain scoring decreased between 1 and 6 weeks, and IKDC knee function scores improved by approximately 30.1 with ChonDux over 24 months. CONCLUSION: ChonDux treatment is a safe adjunct to microfracture therapy and promotes stable restoration of full thickness articular cartilage defects for at least 24 months.

Two-year results after lumbar microdiscectomy with and without prophylaxis of a peridural fibrosis using Adcon-L.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study investigated the advantages of the intraoperative application of the anti-adhesion barrier gel Adcon-L after lumbar microdiscectomy. METHODS: For the study, 92 patients were recruited. Following the operation, 46 patients (study group) received Adcon-L application. In other 46 patients (control group), wounds were closed without Adcon-L application. Median follow-up was 32 (range 26-33) months in the study group and 37 (range 32-41) months in the control group postoperation. All patients were examined clinically, and spinal MRIs were carried out on 12 randomly selected patients in each group. RESULTS: According to the score of the Low Back Pain Committee of the Japanese Orthopedic Association, no significant clinical difference could be established between the two groups. Subjective evaluation of the operation results (score according to Weber) was not significant. Peridural scarring on the postoperative MRI of 24 patients did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: A significant effect on the clinical results after Adcon-L application could not be found.