Learn about CARTICEL

CARTICEL is an autologous cellular product indicated for the repair of symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyle (medial, lateral or trochlea), caused by acute or repetitive trauma, in patients who have had an inadequate response to a prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure (e.g., debridement, microfracture, drilling/abrasion arthroplasty, or osteochondral allograft/autograft). Manufactured by Genzyme Biosurgery, a pioneer in the field of cartilage repair and cell-based therapies, in a state-of-the-art cell processing facility, CARTICEL is:

  • Created from a patient’s own cartilage.
  • Shown to decrease pain and increase function in a challenging patient population.
  • Demonstrated durability up to four years in a challenging patient population.
  • Can create hyaline-like cartilage.

The world’s first biologic product in orthopaedics, CARTICEL has been in commercial use by surgeons since 1995. In 1997, the FDA granted a Biologic License for CARTICEL. In 2007, the results of the Study of the Treatment of Articular Repair (STAR) were published. STAR was a post-approval study designed to determine the safety and efficacy of CARTICEL in patients who had an inadequate response to a prior surgical repair procedure.

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Contact Carticel

For reimbursement questions, contact a Carticel Care® Coordinator at 800-453-6948, Option #2.

For all other questions, contact a Genzyme Biosurgery representative at 800-453-6948, Option #1.

Important Safety Information

CARTICEL is for autologous use and is indicated for the repair of symptomatic, cartilage defects of the femoral condyle (medial, lateral or trochlea), caused by acute or repetitive trauma, in patients who have had an inadequate response to a prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure (e.g., debridement, microfracture, drilling/abrasion arthroplasty, or osteochondral allograft/autograft). CARTICEL should only be used in conjunction with debridement, placement of a periosteal flap and rehabilitation. The independent contributions of the autologous cultured chondrocytes and other components of the therapy to outcome are unknown. It is not indicated for the treatment of cartilage damage associated with generalized osteoarthritis. It is not recommended for patients whose knee meniscus has been surgically removed unless the patient has undergone surgical reconstruction prior to or concurrent with CARTICEL implantation.

Pre-existing conditions including meniscal tears, joint instability or malalignment of the joint should be corrected prior to or concurrent with CARTICEL implantation. It should not be used in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to gentamicin, other aminoglycosides or materials of bovine origin. CARTICEL is not routinely tested for transmissible infectious diseases and may transmit disease to the healthcare provider handling CARTICEL. In addition, it should not be used in patients who have previously had cancer in the bones, cartilage, fat or muscle of the treated limb. Use in children, patients over age 65, or in joints other than the knee has not yet been assessed.

The occurrence of subsequent surgical procedures (SSPs), primarily arthroscopy, following CARTICEL implantation is common. In the Study of the Treatment of Articular Repair (STAR), forty-nine percent (49%) of patients underwent an SSP on the treated knee, irrespective of their relationship to CARTICEL, during the 4-year follow up. The most common serious adverse events (≥5% of patients), derived from STAR, include arthrofibrosis/joint adhesions, graft overgrowth, chondromalacia or chondrosis, cartilage injury, graft complication, meniscal lesion, graft delamination, and osteoarthritis.

For more information on CARTICEL, please see the Package Insert (PDF).