Prospective Observational Study of a Non-Arthroscopic Autologous Cartilage Micrografting Technology for Knee Osteoarthritis

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of autologous micrografting technology (AMT®) for treating early-stage knee osteoarthritis in 10 patients. The procedure involved extracting auricular cartilage, disaggregating it, and injecting the micrografts into the affected knee. Significant improvements were observed in knee instability, pain, swelling, mechanical locking, stair climbing, and squatting at 1 and 6 months post-procedure. KOOS scores showed significant enhancements across all subscales. At 12 months, patients reported minimal or no pain and good mobility, with no adverse events. The study concluded that AMT® is an effective and safe treatment for early-stage knee osteoarthritis, though larger studies and randomized clinical trials are needed for validation.