ACI vs MACI for knee cartilage repairBoth ACI and MACI for knee cartilage repair follow a two-stage structure: cartilage biopsy with laboratory expansion, then implantation. The difference lies in the second stage's delivery mechanism—ACI injects expanded cells beneath a periosteal patch, while MACI pre-seeds them onto a collagen membrane secured with fibrin glue.Both ACI and MACI for knee cartilage repair follow a two-stage structure: cartilage biopsy with laboratory expansion, then implantation. The difference lies in the second stage's delivery mechanism—ACI injects expanded cells beneath a periosteal patch, while MACI pre-seeds them onto a collagen membrane secured with fibrin glue.
Choosing ACI, MACI or single‑stage cell surgeryACI and MACI are two-stage repairs for localised full-thickness cartilage defects, while single-stage techniques place cells or cell-rich material into the defect in one operation. MACI has the strongest long-term follow-up, but single-stage methods still rest mainly on smaller, less comparable series.ACI and MACI are two-stage repairs for localised full-thickness cartilage defects, while single-stage techniques place cells or cell-rich material into the defect in one operation. MACI has the strongest long-term follow-up, but single-stage methods still rest mainly on smaller, less comparable series.