Chondral lesions are diagnosed in an increasing number of patients and different techniques are described for repair these lesions.

The authors report their experience treating chondral defect with a modified AMIC technique consisting of perforations according to Pridie, rather than microfractures, and the covering of the focus of the lesion with a biological collagen patch enriched with bone marrow blood draw through the kennel itself.

Between 2006 and 2012, a total of 47 treated with this technique were enrolled in this study.

The median age was 29 (18–50) years, 19 female and 28 male. The patients were checked every 15 days for the first 4 months, every 3 months for the first year, and than once a year. The median follow-up period was 68 months (range 36–120). Preoperative and postoperative evaluation were made according to IKDC score, Lysholm Knee Scale revised for chondral injuries, modified Ikeuchi score and high resolution spin echo cartilage sensitive MRI measured according to Mithoefer et al.

The median preoperative subjective IKDC score of 28 (16–40) significantly increased to an average of 81 (67–95) at 24 months postoperatively. The mean preoperative Lysholm Knee Scale revised for chondral injuries was 53 (23–83). This score significantly increased to a median of 98 (96–100). Result according to the modified Ikeuchi score were 78% excellent and good but 22% fair and poor at 24 months postoperative, whereas the preoperative values were 42% fair and 58% poor. These scores remained significantly better for the patients assessed at 10 years follow-up. The histological analysis showed the presence of hyaline-like cartilage.

This technique can be considered ad simple, reproducible and without the need of a second surgery. Result according to IKDC, Lysholm Knee Scale revised for chondral injuries, modified Ikeuchi score, MRI evidence and Histological findings suggest a good to excellent outcome for the majority of the patients.