First Conn. MACI Outpatient Knee Cartilage Membrane Surgery Performed at Middlesex Hospital

Press Release, August 15, 2017

MIDDLETOWN — Connecticut’s first outpatient knee cartilage membrane surgery using a patient’s own cells was recently performed at Middlesex Hospital.

Dr. Michael Kuhn, of Orthopedic Associates of Middletown, performed the MACI surgery.

MACI is the first product to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the purpose of using engineered tissue to grow cells on scaffolds using healthy cartilage tissue and cells directly from a patient’s knee. The surgery is performed in two stages.

The first stage requires an arthroscopic, or minimally invasive, procedure that allows Dr. Kuhn to harvest a small sample of cartilage cells from a patient’s knee joint. These cells expand and grow in number, allowing Dr. Kuhn to then re-implant the cells into the patient’s knee and fix the cartilage issue as part of the second stage of the surgery.

Damage to knee cartilage can be due to acute or repetitive trauma, and it can result in knee pain, effusion or mechanical issues, such as catching, locking or swelling. This can lead to more long-term problems, which is why surgery is sometimes the best option.

“This MACI surgery is revolutionizing cartilage restoration procedures,” says Dr. Kuhn. “It provides a durable repair that is long lasting and is accomplished through smaller surgical incisions with less pain and discomfort over previous techniques.”

Contact Information

Public Relations Director
Amanda Falcone
860-358-6980
amanda.falcone@midhosp.org

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