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Osteochondral Autograft Transplant

In more severe or larger defects, a specialized drill is used to place holes in the defective area. Another specialized drill called a "trephine" is used to remove plugs of cartilage and bone from an area of the knee where it is not needed.

The first image demonstrates where "plugs" of bone and cartilage are harvested from a non-essential area of the knee for transplant to the weight bearing, damaged area. The second image shows the device used with the arthroscope to implant the plugs. The final image is an arthroscopic picture taken months after the transplant, showing the cartilage alive and well.

These plugs are then placed into the holes drilled in the defect. The bone of the plugs heals to the bone of the femur, and the cap of cartilage on each of these plugs heals to one another. This is like using plugs of grass on a new lawn. As each plug takes hold and grows, the grass expands to fill out the grass in between. This technique is good for moderately sized cartilage defects and has the advantage of being done through very small incisions all in one surgical procedure.