Knee osteoarthritis patient symptom-free for five years after advanced cartilage transplant at Chennai hospital

A 56-year-old man treated for long-standing knee osteoarthritis has remained symptom-free for five years after undergoing an advanced autograft cartilage tissue transplant in 2020, MGM Healthcare Malar, Adyar, said on Saturday (December 27, 2025). 

Doctors from the hospital pointed to the long-term outcomes of the fifth-generation arthroscopic procedure aimed at preserving the natural knee joint and delaying total knee replacement.

According to a press release, a 56-year-old man who underwent the single-stage procedure in 2020 for long-standing osteoarthritis has remained completely symptom-free for five years. The technique allows patients to walk immediately after surgery and does not require implants, crutches, or intensive physiotherapy.

The procedure involves harvesting healthy cartilage from the patient’s own joint and transplanting it to the damaged area in the same sitting, addressing limitations of earlier cartilage repair methods that required multiple surgeries or laboratory culturing. It is particularly useful for patients with focal cartilage defects, early osteoarthritis, and sports-related injuries, where untreated damage can lead to progressive joint degeneration, the release added.

Nandkumar Sundaram, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics, said the minimally invasive procedure combines graft preparation, platelet-rich plasma application, and fibrin glue fixation to promote healing and restore smooth joint movement.