The first one-stage cartilage repair with freshly isolated Chondrocytes outside Europe:
Aspetar, orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, is the first in the region to perform a kind of regeneration cartilage that helps repair cartilage defects, a chronic condition that affects many athletes and patients.
The newly introduced technic used by Aspetar surgeons is the first one-stage cartilage repair with freshly isolated Chondrocytes, to be performed out of Europe.
The cartilage cells were harvested and isolated from the patient, and then prepared in a portable lab, enhanced by Stem cells, and applied to a biological membrane. This membrane was then implanted to the cartilage defect in the patient’s knee.
During the procedure the surgeon combines chondrocytes and stem cells of the patient and this mixture is applied to the cartilage defect with the use of a biological absorbable membrane. In this way, the chondrocytes are producing cartilage and the defect is filled with new tissue under a certain biological timeline.
Dr. Emmanouil Papakostas, Aspetar Orthopaedic surgeon, said: “At present, we do not have the optimal treatment option for cartilage, however, this technique gives better mid to long-term results when compared with other most commonly used techniques like microfractures.”
The procedure can be done arthroscopically or with mini arthrotomy and the duration is less than two hours. The patient stays in the hospital for one or two days and to resume his daily activities, it takes 6 to 8 weeks considering the exact anatomical location of the problem and the size. The same parameters also play a role in the return to play time, which can be from 6 to 12 months.
This new service will allow the hospital to perform the procedure for selected cases, with the proper indication, as part of the full spectrum of joint preservation treatments that are already applied at Aspetar.
Aspetar’s Surgery department boasts a team of highly skilled, internationally renowned surgeons from around the world, who perform sports and arthroscopic surgical procedures using the most advanced techniques and equipment.
Damage to the articular cartilage of the knee in athletes presents one of the most difficult challenges in the care of elite and recreational athletes.
Cartilage defect injuries in athletes are common in sports associated with jumping, pivoting, rapid deceleration, and acceleration. This is particularly true of football, basketball, and handball, but may also occur in any sport requiring these repeated athletic movements.
About Aspetar:
Aspetar is a world-leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.
In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.
In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved the obtained on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.
Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.