MACI: A Game-Changer in Knee Surgery for Active Individuals

Has your knee been bothering you for a long time and you’ve been to several doctors to seek relief to no avail? Or you’re simply wary of having the recommended procedure such as a knee replacement. Read on to find out about how the MACI Procedure can fix your knee problems in a much less invasive, painful way that requires less downtime.

Cartilage Loss: A Common Issue for Active Individuals

Cartilage damage is the most common reason that your knee hurts, whether it’s from an acute knee injury or a long-term wear and tear type scenario. Cartilage repair is the crux of MACI and can have you back to enjoying the activities you love in less time than it would take from more invasive procedures.

So, whether you’re an athlete or just a very active person and you find yourself limiting the things you do because of knee pain – cartilage damage is probably to blame.

What is the MACI Procedure?

The MACI (Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation) procedure is a treatment for knee pain using autologous stem cell therapy. It is a minimally invasive surgery, indicated for knee cartilage damage.

‘Autologous’ refers to the stem cells used in the MACI Procedure. They are yours, harvested from your own body and completed arthroscopically from a non-weight-bearing position of the knee. The extracted cells consist of chondrocytes, which are the building blocks of cartilage. This is the first step of a 2-step process for this procedure.

Arthroscopic procedures are short and simple. They involve making a very small incision in which your surgeon inserts a thin tube into your knee, on the end of which is a very tiny camera. This camera displays an image onto a monitor that your surgeon uses as a guide.

We then ship these stem cells to a specialized lab dedicated to the MACI Procedure. There, the cells are implanted onto a collagen membrane that encourages growth into fresh new cartilage. As soon as the new cartilage is ready to survive and function on its own, your MACI implant is created.

Now, you are ready for the second phase which involves surgically inserting the implant over or in place of the damaged area. The implant can be trimmed to an exact fit to cover or replace the damage.

The implant absorbs into your tissue. Sutures are generally not required as a fibrin sealant is used to fix the implant in place.

Recovery is easier, less painful, and requires less downtime than many other orthopedic surgeries.

When you wake up from surgery, your leg will be locked in a brace that you need to wear for about 6 weeks. Full motion and weight-bearing of the knee without the brace is expected within 8 to 12 weeks.

How Dr. Burke and the MACI Procedure Can Help You Get Back on Track

This procedure boasts a high success rate and is a wonderful option that we provide, that is not offered by all orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Burke is specially trained in the technique.

The MACI Procedure is a revolutionary orthopedic surgery. Knee pain can limit everything you try to do in life. If your knee is bothering you, come see our team at Dr. Burke Orthopedics to determine the root cause of the issue. You may find that you are a candidate for the MACI Procedure to fix your knee pain once and for all.