Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Medical development provides alternative to joint replacement. Briton Helen James, a patient
in Birmingham, UK’s Good Hope Hospital is successfully recovered after a surgery using
a recently developed procedure to re-grow and replace damaged knee cartilage. Called
matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), the process involves the initial removal
of a small sample of the patient’s own healthy cartilage, which is then cultivated in a lab
to encourage its growth and then used to replace the damaged tissue. Because damaged cartilage
in the body does not regenerate on its own, it is hoped that this pioneering technique
can provide a less invasive and safer alternative following accidents or sports-related injuries,
which in the past have often required complete replacement with artificial joints. The new
procedure is now being tested with 144 patients across 7 European countries in a two-year
clinical trial.
Congratulations Ms. James on your regained mobility following this new procedure as we
thank both the surgical team and scientists. May such a beneficial technology help to improve
the quality of life for many others�