Synovium Brushing to Augmented Microfracture for Improved Cartilage Repair (AURA)

University of Leeds

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cartilage Injury; Defect of Articular Cartilage; Osteoarthritis, Knee

Treatments: Device: Arthroscopic synovial brushing; Procedure: Microfracture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02696876

RR15/173

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a proof-of-concept study to determine the safety and efficacy of a novel device to increase the reparative capacity of the knee. The discovery of a resident population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within synovial fluid (SF) was the first description of this reparative cell population having direct access to superficial cartilage and joint structures. The ready access of SF MSC to cartilage and other joint tissues offers a novel strategy for joint repair. Current arthroscopic procedures result in the removal of all SF MSCs due to continuous irrigation throughout the procedure. The current study would benefit the patient by greatly increasing the reparative capacity of the joint by bolstering MSC numbers and retaining those MSCs within the joint after surgery. By accessing MSCs from the synovium it is anticipated that these cells would be entrapped/migrate into the marrow clot formed by microfracture of the sub-chondral bone. These MSCs would supplement those from the marrow and may result in faster, better quality repair.

Full description

The synovium is a rich source of potent chondrogenic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Gaining access to this valuable source of regenerative cells could improve the outcome of joint restorative procedures. To avoid costly two-stage procedures and ex vivo manipulation, exploiting these autologous cells in a minimally invasive way with minimal manipulation could provide a novel cost-effective approach.

This study will evaluate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a novel medical device (a synovial brush) and procedure (synovial brushing) to increase the number of autologous minimally manipulated MSCs in the knee. Twenty patients undergoing microfracture for isolated chondral defects will be randomly assigned to either a control group (microfracture only, 10 patients) or the intervention group (microfracture plus synovial brushing, 10 patients). The device is intended to increase the number of MSCs within the joint as a final stage during surgery, aiding repair by bolstering those MSCs recruited from the bone marrow.

Enrollment: 4 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Isolated cartilage defects (<2cm2)
• Patients undergoing microfracture for repair of cartilage defects

Exclusion criteria

• Septic arthritis

• Infectious disease

• Revision joint surgery

• Meniscal damage requiring repair

• Ligament damage requiring repair

• Cartilage defect greater than 2cm2

• Contra-indications for MRI:

  • Pacemakers, Implantable Cardioverter defibrillators, implantable cardiac loop recorders
  • Surgical clips within the head
  • Certain inner ear implants
  • Neuro-electrical stimulators
  • Metal fragments within the eye or head

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

---

4 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in this group will received conventional microfracture treatment as indicated for isolated cartilage defects and defined by the inclusion criteria.

Treatment:

Procedure: Microfracture

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this group will also receive microfracture for the treatment of isolated cartilage defects in combination with arthroscopic synovial brushing to access and release synovial MSCs into the joint space.

Treatment:

Device: Arthroscopic synovial brushing