Osteochondral Autograft transfer system (OATS)

Arthroscopic OATS procedure is at the forefront of cartilage restoration techniques in the knee joint, as well as other major joints, offering superior return to sport rates and long-term functionality. This procedure transfers cartilage from non weight bearing areas of the knee joint to the weight bearing areas where there is full thickness cartilage loss due to conditions like osteochondritis dissecans seen in the young active individuals.

Osteochondral means, a plug which has a bony base for stability and a cartilage cap which fills the cartilage defect. Different size options are available for this procedure, the common ones are 6,8,10mm. If the defect is larger multiple plugs can be stacked one beside the other, in a procedure called Mosaicplasty.

While microfracturing is another simpler technique for filling cartialge defect, OATS procedure restores original hyaline cartilage in the weight beairng area which will mature over time and last for the lifetime when done with the correct indications. Microfracturing aims are filling smaller defects with fibrocartilage, which is inferior in its quality and can disintegrate over a period of 5-8 years

Are you a good candidate for OATS?

Request an office consultation with Dr Sujit Jos

Case file – OATS

23 year old football player who sustained knee injury while playing. Diagnosis – ACL tear with full thickness cartilage loss over Medial femoral condyle