Prepare for your surgery

Prior to your CARTICEL procedure, here are some helpful resources to help you get organized for your surgery and the days ahead. Please be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Talking to your Doctor
Preparing Your Home
Shopping
Other Tips
Preparing for the Hospital

Talking to your Doctor

  • Tell your doctor about every medication you take—both prescription and over the counter. You may need to stop taking some medicines a few days before surgery.
  • Don’t be shy. Ask all your questions about the procedure itself, as well as about your rehabilitation.

Preparing Your Home

  • If possible, arrange to live on one level temporarily.
  • Clear a path from your bed to the bathroom and kitchen. You may want to move furniture out of the way and remove throw rugs.
  • Many people find a shower seat and elevated toilet seat helpful.
  •  Place the phone and TV remote control near your bed.

Shopping

  • Get a supply of easily prepared foods or pre-prepared meals to minimize cooking.
  • Some patients experience nausea from the anesthesia, so have some bland food on hand.
  • Have plenty of cold packs in the freezer. Your doctor will tell you when and how to use them.
  • Before your procedure, pick up any prescriptions, including anti-inflammatory or pain medications your doctor may have prescribed for you to use post-procedure.

Other Tips

  • Shorts or side-snap athletic pants may be easier to wear when you leave the hospital, attend therapy and go for physician visits.
  • You will not be able to drive following the procedure. Arrange for someone to bring you to and from the hospital.
  • Slip-on shoes eliminate the need to bend over to tie laces.
  • Practice walking with crutches before your surgery.

Preparing for the Hospital

This procedure is often done on an inpatient basis or as a 23-hour stay, so you will likely spend at least one night in the hospital after your surgery.

  • Bring your insurance information and a photo ID.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
  • Bring any dental appliances you use, such as bridges or dentures.
  • Even if you usually wear contact lenses, you may prefer glasses the day of the procedure.
  • Do not shave your leg at home as you may accidentally nick yourself.
  • Leave jewelry and other valuables at home.

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Have Questions?

Check out our FAQs for answers—or contact a Carticel Care® Coordinator at 800-453-6948, Option #2, for more detailed information.

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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).