A pilot study to evaluate the functional outcome of nanofractures for the treatment of cartilage lesions
NCT ID NCT05660161
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026
Summary
Articular cartilage lesions, with their inherent limited healing potential, remain a challenging problem for orthopaedic surgeons. Various techniques, both palliative and reparative, have been used to treat this injury with variable success rates. If not adequately treated, they may even lead to the development of early-onset osteoarthritis. Among all the available techniques, microfractures are used in restoring the cartilage tissue, especially in the deep and extended lesions. More recently, the need for minor bone trauma with still adequate bleeding resulted in the development of nanofractures. Nanofracturing means creating perforations with a smaller diameter that go deeper into the bone while damaging it less. This is supposed to reduce the injury to the subchondral bone and increase the amount of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells at the bone surface. Thus, the aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the efficacy of nanofractures for the treatment of cartilage lesions of the knee, specifically focusing on the chondral healing that will be addressed with magnetic resonance imaging.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2023
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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16 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with cartilage lesions of the knee scheduled for surgery * Age 16-50 * BMI between 18.5 and 30 points * Ability to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Uncorrected knee instability * Meniscectomy \> 50% * Uncorrected knee misalignment * Uncontrolled metabolic diseases * Inability to give informed consent
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As listed by the trial registrant
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How to take part
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
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A doctor treating you
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Contacts and locations
Locations
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EOC
RECRUITINGLugano, 6900, Switzerland
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