Articular Cartilage

Damaged articular cartilage has a limited ability to heal on its own. Damage can lead to pain, swelling, and loss of motion. The articular cartilage paste graft (ArtCart) was developed in 1991 by Dr. Kevin R. Stone as a cost-effective, minimally invasive technique for cartilage repair indicated for both large and small cartilage lesions.

The technique uses a patient's own healthy cartilage and bone harvested from a neighboring site that is processed into a paste and impacted into the prepared cartilage defect area. Unlike other techniques, paste grafting is entirely arthroscopic, uses autologous tissue, and is performed in a single session.

Our research focuses on both clinical outcomes of ArtCart patients and the development of the new generation of ArtCart (ArtCart+), the augmented version of the paste graft designed to facilitate improved cartilage regeneration and global adoption for patients suffering from articular cartilage injury or osteoarthritis (OA).

Our long-term outcome data demonstrates that paste grafting provides sustained pain relief and functional improvement for patients with severe cartilage damage—a population often told their only option is joint replacement.

The 2016 study showing a median benefit time of 19.1 years following ArtCart represents one of the longest follow-ups in cartilage repair literature. Delaying partial or total knee replacement and brings a return to simple activity.

With ArtCart+, the addition of an adhesive agent and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), there is augmented cartialge regeneration and improved graft attachment to surrounding tissue. ArtCart+ represent a single-step, globally accessible method of cartilage repair that will bring benefit to both veterinary patients and humans, enabling a robust return to movement.