Case Study: MACI Patellar & Trochlear Repair with Concomitant Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
Important Safety Information
Full Prescribing Information
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Case Study: MACI Patellar & Trochlear Repair with Concomitant Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy

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MACI knee cartilage repair treats symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage defects of the adult knee and is an option to treat patients with multiple lesions. Review a recent case study documenting treatment with MACI surgery and concomitant tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) for a 19-year-old collegiate athlete with defects of the lateral trochlea and patella.

The Patient

  • 19-year-old female patient
  • Active collegiate pole vaulter
  • Presents with knee pain, swelling and mechanical symptoms
  • Eighteen months prior to presentation, she underwent a left knee arthroscopy with loose body removal and chondroplasty. Patient recovered well post-op and returned to competition

Patient’s Knee History

  • Two months prior to presentation, patient landed awkwardly from a vault. She experienced immediate pain in her left knee and subsequent swelling
  • Initially treated injury with ice and NSAIDs but only provided minimal improvement
  • Minimal to no underlying bone marrow edema
  • Physician participated in a long discussion with patient, parents, and trainer regarding treatment options including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate (BMA) injections
  • An examination uncovered the following in the patient’s left knee:
    • Mild to moderate effusion
    • Tenderness about the lateral patellar facet and anterolaterally over the lateral trochlea
    • No medial or lateral joint line tenderness
    • Range of motion: 0–125 degrees with pain on end flexion
    • Repetitive painful catch between 20 and 30 degrees of knee flexion

Images from a left knee arthroscopy uncovering a lateral trochlea defect measuring 10 x 12 mm and a patellar facet defect measuring 16 x 18 mm.

Surgical Approach

  • Dr. Eric Strauss moved forward with MACI knee cartilage repair surgery to repair the defects:
  • Arthroscopy revealed lateral trochlear defect measuring 10 x 12 mm and a patellar facet defect measuring 16 x 18 mm
  • Cell-based cartilage repair via MACI to both sites with an unloading tibial tubercle osteotomy (60-degree cut)

X-ray image of knee treated with MACI with an unloading tibial tubercle osteotomy.

Rehab

  • Dr. Strauss prescribed an 8-week rehab protocol with an anticipated return to low-impact activity in months 6 to 9
  • Patient followed MACI rehab protocol under the guidance of a physical therapist and athletic trainer
  • Used crutches for 6 weeks
  • Began using the stationary bike at 8 weeks, elliptical at 4 months, and jogging at 9 months
  • During 2 months of post-operative rehabilitation:
    • Mechanical symptoms improved but still with pain and swelling episodes
    • Patient tried to train/vault but was unsuccessful, secondary to pain and limited range of motion

Outcome

  • At 9 months post-op, patient denies any operative site pain, swelling, or mechanical symptoms
  • Range of motion: 0–140 degrees without pain
  • Strength and endurance in quadriceps improving
  • Returned to training and competition at 1-year post-op
  • The season following surgery, she accomplished a personal best vault of 4.10 m

Explore more knee cartilage defects that may be treatable with MACI surgery here.

Individual results may vary.

 

Please see below for full indication and ISI. Blog posts are intended to provide educational information only and do not constitute medical advice.

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Indication and Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information

Contraindications: MACI is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to gentamicin, other aminoglycosides, products of porcine or bovine origin; in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee, inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, or uncorrected congenital blood coagulation disorders; in patients who have undergone prior knee surgery in the past 6 months, excluding surgery to procure a biopsy or a concomitant procedure to prepare the knee for a MACI implant; or in patients unable to cooperate with a physician-prescribed post-surgical rehabilitation program.

Warnings and Precautions:
  • Malignancy: The risk of MACI in patients with malignancy in the area of cartilage biopsy or implant is unknown. Expansion of malignant or dysplastic cells present in biopsy tissue during manufacture and subsequent implantation may be possible.
  • Transmissible infectious diseases: Because patients undergoing procedures associated with MACI are not routinely tested for transmissible infectious diseases, cartilage biopsy and MACI implant may carry risk of transmitting infectious diseases.
  • Presurgical Comorbidities: Local inflammation or active infection in the bone, joint, and surrounding soft tissue, meniscal pathology, cruciate ligament instability, and misalignment should be assessed and treated prior to or concurrent with MACI implantation.
  • Product Sterility: Final sterility test results are not available at the time of shipping.

Adverse Reactions: The most frequently occurring adverse reactions reported for MACI (≥5%) were arthralgia, tendonitis, back pain, joint swelling, and joint effusion. Serious adverse reactions reported for MACI were arthralgia, cartilage injury, meniscus injury, treatment failure, and osteoarthritis.

Specific Populations:
  • Use of MACI in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years of age) or in patients over 65 years of age has not been established.
  • The MACI implant is not recommended during pregnancy. For implantations post-pregnancy, the safety of breastfeeding to an infant has not been determined.

To report negative side effects, contact Vericel Corporation at 1-800-453-6948 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.

Indication

MACI® is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of single or multiple symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of single or multiple symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.

Limitations of Use

Effectiveness of MACI in joints other than the knee has not been established.

Safety and effectiveness of MACI in patients over the age of 55 years have not been established.