Preparing for the day of your MACI procedure Skip to content

How long will my surgery last?

Surgery times can vary greatly depending on your individual needs. Check with your surgeon on how to plan the day of your procedure and recovery from anesthesia. Once you recover from the anesthesia, you will likely be released that same day. It’s important also to know that you will not be able to drive home following the surgery. Make sure to plan accordingly.

What clothes should I wear to surgery?

Come wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothes and bring a small backpack to carry your paperwork and any personal items. This may be easier than carrying a bag, especially if you have to use crutches or other mobility assistance devices.

Can I eat or drink before surgery?

Follow your orthopedic surgeon’s instructions regarding food and drink before surgery.

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Important

Do not plan on driving from your procedure. Your doctor will let you know when it’s safe to drive following surgery.

What is R-I-C-E?

Here are some ways to help alleviate your pain and support your recovery that you can do once you return home. Simply remember, R-I-C-E.

REST: General rest is incredibly important. Stay off your knee and use crutches as instructed. Follow your surgeon’s advice on how long to keep weight off your knee.

ICE: Ice your knee for 20 minutes every 2 hours.

COMPRESSION: Use an elastic (ACE-type) wrap or compression bandage on your knee if instructed to do so.

ELEVATION: Lie down with your knee propped up on pillows.

Discover the My MACI App

It will help guide you and keep you on track with your MACI procedure preparations as well as providing a personalized rehab program.

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It will help guide you and keep you on track with your MACI procedure preparations as well as providing a personalized rehab program.

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A key component of your preparation is getting set up with a rehabilitation program and physical therapist who can help get you back to your active lifestyle with personalized exercises and proper care.

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How you rehab after the procedure is so important in your return to living life on your terms.

Talk with real patients about their experience with MACI

Hear about real personal experiences with knee cartilage damage and MACI. The MACI Mentor Program gives you an opportunity to connect one-on-one with real people who have had the MACI procedure.

It's Your Move

To speak with a MACI Mentor, call 1-888-237-5493 or click here

Abby, MACI patient

“Thanks to MACI, I’m back to running, biking and living my day-to-day life without any knee pain.”

—Abby, MACI patient*

*Paid testimonial by a MACI patient. Individual results may vary.

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See Abby’s and others’ stories about how MACI has helped them get back to their active way of life.

It's Your move

Indication and Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information

MACI should not be used if you:

  • are allergic to antibiotics such as gentamicin, or materials that come from cow, pig, or ox;
  • have severe osteoarthritis of the knee, other severe inflammatory conditions, infections or inflammation in the bone joint and other surrounding tissue, or blood clotting conditions;
  • have had knee surgery in the past 6 months, not including surgery for obtaining a cartilage biopsy or a surgical procedure to prepare your knee for a MACI implant;
  • or cannot follow a doctor-prescribed rehabilitation program after your surgery

Consult your doctor if you have cancer in the area of the cartilage biopsy or implant as the safety of MACI is not known in those cases.

Conditions that existed before your surgery, including meniscus tears, joint or ligament instability, or alignment problems should be evaluated and treated before or at the same time as the MACI implant.

MACI is not recommended if you are pregnant.

MACI has not been studied in patients younger than 18 or over 55 years of age.

Common side effects include joint pain, tendonitis, back pain, joint swelling, and joint effusion.

More serious side effects include joint pain, cartilage or meniscus injury, treatment failure, and osteoarthritis.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for more information.

Indication

MACI® is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI is used for the repair of symptomatic cartilage damage of the adult knee.

The amount of MACI applied depends on the size of the cartilage damage. The MACI film is trimmed by your surgeon to match the size and shape of the damage, to ensure the damaged area is completely covered.

Limitations of Use

It is not known whether MACI is effective in joints other than the knee.

It is not known whether MACI is safe or effective in patients over the age of 55 years.