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Single-stage vs two-stage ACI for cartilage repairTraditional two-stage ACI involves two general anaesthetics separated by a four-to-six-week cell culture period; STACI performs both stages in a single theatre session, requiring one general anaesthetic and eliminating the inter-stage gap.Traditional two-stage ACI involves two general anaesthetics separated by a four-to-six-week cell culture period; STACI performs both stages in a single theatre session, requiring one general anaesthetic and eliminating the inter-stage gap.
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ACI or MACI for knee cartilage repairBoth ACI and MACI require two operations: stage-1 biopsy yields too few chondrocytes for immediate repair, so stage-2 implantation must follow 3–6 weeks of laboratory expansion.Both ACI and MACI require two operations: stage-1 biopsy yields too few chondrocytes for immediate repair, so stage-2 implantation must follow 3–6 weeks of laboratory expansion.
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Single-stage or two-stage cartilage repairCartilage repair decisions hinge on defect size: lesions below roughly 1.5–2 cm² suit single-stage surgery, those of 2–4 cm² permit either approach, and larger defects typically require tissue replacement rather than repair.Cartilage repair decisions hinge on defect size: lesions below roughly 1.5–2 cm² suit single-stage surgery, those of 2–4 cm² permit either approach, and larger defects typically require tissue replacement rather than repair.
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STACi vs MACI for knee cartilage repairSTACi performs knee cartilage repair in one operation by combining bone-marrow stem cells with patient chondrocytes on a three-dimensional scaffold — differing from MACI in cell composition and scaffold structure, though lacking randomised-trial evidence for long-term durability.STACi performs knee cartilage repair in one operation by combining bone-marrow stem cells with patient chondrocytes on a three-dimensional scaffold — differing from MACI in cell composition and scaffold structure, though lacking randomised-trial evidence for long-term durability.
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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.
