Ankle cartilage repair gets a boost: scaffold and stem cells tested in new trial
NCT ID NCT07555899
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests a new surgical technique for people with large ankle cartilage and bone defects. Surgeons will drill into the damaged bone and place a scaffold enriched with the patient's own bone marrow cells to help regenerate tissue. The goal is to see if this approach improves pain and function, and whether MRI scans show better healing at 12 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- scaffold enriched with bone marrow-derived cells
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new surgical option to repair large ankle cartilage and bone defects, potentially reducing pain and improving joint function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study (20 people) with no control group, so results may not be generalizable. The procedure is complex and carries surgical risks like infection or incomplete healing.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
RECRUITINGBologna, Italy
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.