When researching treatment options like MACI knee cartilage repair, it’s easy to stumble upon misconceptions.
Let’s get down to the facts. Below we debunk some common myths about the procedure.
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MACI Myths – Debunked
Myth: MACI cell therapy is an experimental treatment.
Fact: MACI is an FDA-approved treatment that uses your own cells to repair your knee cartilage damage. Results with MACI have been reported in over 49 publications and five randomized clinical trials.
During the SUMMIT clinical trial, researchers compared the results of microfracture, a long-standing procedure that also treats knee cartilage damage, to MACI surgery. In the trial, a significantly greater proportion of patients treated with MACI showed clinically meaningful improvements in both pain and function at two years after their procedure, when compared to microfracture.1 In a follow-up study, those improvements were maintained at five years after the procedure.2
Only a trained specialist can perform the MACI procedure. Before choosing what, if any, surgical procedure is best, you and your surgeon will consider your overall health and age, whether you have more than one cartilage injury, the size of your injury, and the type and length of rehabilitation that is appropriate for you.
Myth: Most patients will be immobile during their recovery from MACI.
Fact: Post-surgery, most patients are, in fact, weight-bearing and ambulatory with crutches relatively quickly.
After MACI surgery, you will begin a physician-prescribed rehabilitation program specifically designed for you. While each patient’s rehab experience is unique and individual results will vary, a typical patient will experience progressive gains throughout the 6- to 9-month rehab process.
Common post-surgery rehab milestones include:
- Within the first week post-op: Patients are mobile with crutches.
- 0-3 months post-op: Return to light recreational movement including the ability to walk, use a stationary bike, get back to daily routines (showering, navigating stairs, driving, etc.) with the assistance of crutches and resume work if the role can be performed seated.
- 3-6 months post-op: Return to low-impact activities (golfing, yoga, rowing, swimming, etc.) and resume more physically demanding jobs and activities that require strength and endurance.
- 6-9+ months post-op: Return to pre-injury level of sports, work and recreational activities.
Myth: You should wait to get treatment for your knee cartilage damage.
Fact: Knee cartilage doesn’t heal on its own and often gets worse over time. And in fact, delaying treatment can make repairs more difficult down the road.
A study called “Time Matters” explores how delaying treatment for knee cartilage pain can lead to worsening injury. Data showed that patients undergoing cell-based knee cartilage repair (like MACI) who experienced a long delay between biopsy and implantation were at greater risk for cartilage defect expansion and the appearance of new defects. Timely treatment with MACI knee cartilage repair can help heal knee cartilage damage and prevent further deterioration. It is important to spot the symptoms of knee cartilage damage early, and talk to your doctor about your treatment options, timeline and goals.
Please see below for full indication and ISI. Blog posts are intended to provide educational information only and do not constitute medical advice. Always talk to your doctor with any questions.
1. In a responder analysis, at 104 weeks following treatment the proportion of subjects with at least a 10-point improvement in both KOOS pain and function (SRA) was greater in the MACI group (63/72=87.5%; 95% CI [77.6%, 94.1%]) compared with the microfracture group (49/72=68.1%; 95% CI [56.0%, 78.6%]).[Saris D, Price A, Widuchowski W, et al. for the SUMMIT study group. Matrix-applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes versus microfracture: two-year follow-up of a prospective randomized trial. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42:1384-1394.]
2. All subjects from the 2-year study had the option to enroll in a 3-year follow-up study (extension study), in which 128 subjects participated. All 65 subjects (100%, 65/65) in the MACI group and 59 subjects (93.7%, 59/63) in the microfracture group completed the extension study. The mean 2-year KOOS pain and function scores remained stable for the additional 3-year period in both treatment groups. (Table 1) [Brittberg M, Recker D, Ilgenfritz J, Saris D. SUMMIT Extension Study Group. Matrix-applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes versus microfracture: Five-year follow-up of a prospective randomized trial. Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(6):1343-1351.]
