- Indicative price
- 8,000,000 - 20,000,000 KRW
- Procedure time
- 1 - 2 hours per stage
- Anesthesia
- Spinal or general
- Recovery
- Protected weight bearing 6-8 weeks, sport at 9-12 months
- Minimum stay in Korea
- Two visits or 6+ weeks
- Also known as
- Autologous chondrocyte implantation, Stem cell cartilage, 연골재생
Korea approved Cartistem, an allogeneic umbilical cord blood derived stem cell product for knee cartilage, in 2012, and it remains one of the few such products with regulatory approval anywhere. Autologous chondrocyte implantation requires two operations separated by several weeks for cell culture.
These treatments target focal defects in relatively young patients. They are not a substitute for joint replacement in established diffuse osteoarthritis, and any clinic suggesting otherwise is overselling.
Clinics offering Cartilage Regeneration
Frequently asked questions
Can stem cells cure knee arthritis?
No. Approved cartilage regeneration products treat focal cartilage defects, generally in patients under about 60 with otherwise sound joint alignment. Diffuse advanced osteoarthritis is not an indication.
How many trips does cartilage regeneration require?
Allogeneic products can be done in one operation. Autologous chondrocyte implantation needs two procedures separated by three to six weeks of cell culture, so either a long stay or two trips.
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