Cartilage Restoration and Repair (MACI) in Kansas City

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments like a MACI procedure in Kansas City.

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, cartilage restoration treatments may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with severe knee pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician before surgery for specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery.

Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

If your provider recommends a MACI procedure to restore and repair your knee cartilage, there are a few different things you should expect. The idea with a MACI procedure, as well as all other treatments for knee issues at KCOA, is to restore function and decrease pain. Patients may find a MACI procedure beneficial if daily tasks or physical activity become too challenging.

Your provider will consider factors such as your age, activity level, lifestyle, and more when determining which treatment is right for you. Otherwise-healthy patients with lesions in their knee cartilage or instability of the patella (kneecap) are generally the best candidates for a MACI procedure.

With a MACI procedure, your orthopedic surgeons use cells from your own body to restore and regenerate the cartilage within your knee. This makes it a two part procedure, which starts with a biopsy that involves harvesting small amounts of the cartilage, allowing it to grow and multiply in a lab, and implanting it back into the knee.

Your surgeon will perform a biopsy and remove small parts of the damaged cartilage from the knee. The tissue cells collected during the biopsy are sent to a lab to grow and multiply on a collagen matrix. The first stage of the process takes roughly one month to complete. However, the initial procedure to harvest the cells may only take about 30 minutes. Your provider will likely provide crutches after this potion to use for at least a few days. Most patients can bear weight and even return to work within a short time.

After 4 to 6 weeks, the second stage of the procedure will take place. During this time, the new cartilage has grown and multiplied, and your orthopedic surgeon will implant that cartilage back into your knee. The membrane holding the new cartilage will be customized to match the exact size and shape of the area with defective cartilage.

Over time, the cells will detach from the membrane and fuse with the proteins within your knee cartilage, ultimately fixing your defect.

A patient’s recovery plan and timeline will vary based on a variety of factors, including age, activity level, goals, and more. However, taking care of your body is essential to ensure optimal results.

Following your procedure, patients will likely experience swelling, bruising, and possible numbness in the treatment area. Rest and ice will be critical immediately following surgery. Your provider may also provide you with pain medications, crutches, a brace, and more.

The full recovery timeline will likely take multiple weeks, depending on the extent of the repair, your response to treatment, and your goals post-procedure. To see the best results from your treatment, strict adherence to your recovery plan will be crucial. This can include physical therapy, rehab, rest, icing, and more.