A Cartilage scaffold is a medical material designed to support new cartilage growth in a damaged joint. It acts like a temporary framework where repair tissue can form and mature. It is most commonly discussed in the context of focal cartilage injuries in the knee. It may be used alone or combined with cells or biologic treatments, depending on the case.

MACI stands for **matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation**. It is a cartilage restoration technique used to treat certain **focal cartilage defects** in the knee. It uses a patient’s own cartilage cells that are grown and placed on a scaffold (a supportive matrix). It is most commonly used in orthopedic and sports medicine care for knee cartilage injuries.

ACI most commonly refers to **autologous chondrocyte implantation**, a cartilage repair technique. It uses a person’s own cartilage cells (chondrocytes) to help treat certain cartilage defects. ACI is most often discussed in **knee** care, especially in sports medicine and cartilage restoration clinics. It is typically considered when focal cartilage damage causes pain and limits activity.

Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a surgical technique used to repair damaged joint cartilage. It uses a patient’s own cartilage cells (chondrocytes) to help fill a focal cartilage defect. It is most commonly performed in the knee, including the femur, trochlea, and patella surfaces. It is generally considered when symptoms persist and imaging shows a well-defined cartilage injury.

OCA knee refers to an osteochondral allograft used to treat certain cartilage-and-bone injuries in the knee. It typically involves transplanting donor cartilage with a thin layer of underlying bone into a damaged area. The goal is to restore a smoother joint surface when native cartilage cannot heal well on its own. It is commonly used in sports medicine and orthopedic cartilage restoration care.

Osteochondral allograft transplantation is a surgical method to replace damaged joint cartilage and the underlying bone with donor tissue. It is most commonly used for focal (localized) cartilage defects in the knee. The goal is to restore a smoother joint surface where cartilage has been lost or injured. It is used in orthopedics and sports medicine for selected patients when other options may not fit the defect.

Mosaicplasty is a surgical technique used to repair a focused area of damaged joint cartilage. It transfers small plugs of the patient’s own cartilage and underlying bone into the damaged spot. It is most commonly performed in the knee, especially on the femur (thigh bone) joint surface. The goal is to restore a smoother, more durable joint surface where cartilage is missing.

OATS procedure is a cartilage restoration surgery used to treat a small, focal area of damaged joint cartilage. It transfers a plug of healthy cartilage and underlying bone from one part of the joint to another. It is most commonly discussed for the knee, especially on the femur (thighbone) side of the joint. It is typically used when symptoms are linked to a specific, well-defined cartilage defect.

Osteochondral autograft transfer is a surgical technique that moves a small plug of a patient’s own cartilage and bone to a damaged joint surface. It is most commonly used to treat focal (localized) cartilage defects in the knee. The goal is to replace an injured cartilage area with healthy, living tissue from the same person. You may also see it referred to as an “osteochondral plug transfer” or “OATS,” depending on clinician preference.

Microfracture is a surgical technique used to treat certain types of cartilage damage inside a joint. It is most commonly performed arthroscopically (through small incisions) in the knee. The goal is to stimulate a healing response by creating tiny openings in the bone beneath the damaged cartilage. It is generally used for focal cartilage defects rather than widespread arthritis.