New knee implant could help avoid full replacement

NCT ID NCT06368700

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Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
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Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests a new implant called the HYALEX Freestyle Resurfacing System for people with damaged knee cartilage. About 85 adults aged 22-70 with knee lesions will receive the implant during surgery. The goal is to see if it safely reduces pain and improves daily activities over 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
Hyalex Knee Cartilage System (a synthetic implant surgically placed in the knee to replace damaged cartilage and bone)
What this could lead to
If it works, this implant could offer a new option for people with knee cartilage damage, reducing pain and improving mobility without needing a full knee replacement.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study with only 85 participants and no comparison group, so results may not apply to everyone. Risks include implant failure, infection, or need for additional surgery.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

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

About 85 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Apr 2024

Expected to finish

Dec 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

22 to 70 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria (Phase 1): 1. 22-70 years. 2. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 40. 3. Up to two treatable joint surface lesion, ICRS Grade 3 or 4, located on the medial and/or lateral femoral condyle. 4. Up to 2 implants (one implant per condyle) to treat up to 2 individual symptomatic lesions with a total summative area up to 4.52cm2 / condyle. 5. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain subscale score between 20 and 65. 6. Ligamentously stable knee. 7. Failure of non-operative treatment (e.g., physical therapy, physician-directed at home exercise program, intra-articular injections, bracing) for at least 4 months prior to consideration for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: HYALEX Implant, Surgical Technique, and Lesion Site Exclusions: 1. Known allergy to polyurethanes, bone cement, acrylic, or titanium. 2. Lack of 2mm of cartilage (ICRS Grade 0 to 2) and 2mm of vital bone wall on all sides of the implant site. 3. Osteochondral defect affecting subchondral bone more than 11mm in depth from adjacent non-defect articular surface. 4. Bipolar cartilage lesions involving patellar or tibial lesions ICRS Grade 3 - 4 opposite the lesion intended for treatment. 5. Insufficient bone stock or bone density determined intra-operatively preventing implant press fit. Patient Orthopaedic Health Exclusions: 1. Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade 3 or 4 on standing radiographs. 2. Hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle of greater than +/- 8 degrees (varus or valgus malalignment \> 8 degrees) on standing X-ray. 3. Lack of normally functioning contralateral knee that restricts activity. 4. Recent Osteochondritis Dissecans within 1 year. 5. Diagnosis of a concomitant knee injury which the investigator believes may interfere with study participation or confound effectiveness assessment. 6. Untreated ACL and/or PCL deficiency or complex ligamentous instability of the study knee according to IKDC Grade C (abnormal) or D (severely abnormal). Previous Surgery and Intervention Exclusions: 1. Previous surgical cartilage treatment in the index knee within the last 6 months 2. Previous intra-articular injections, including HA and steroids, within the last 3 months prior to the date of surgery. Patient Overall Health and Health History Exclusions: 1. Any known history of inflammatory arthropathy or untreated or uncontrolled crystal-deposition arthropathy. 2. Current cigarette smoker or user of other nicotine products. 3. Known Type 1 or Type 2 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 4. Currently undergoing immunosuppressive therapy or long-term steroid use (corticosteroid, excluding inhalers) or within 3 months prior to surgery.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The study's own enquiry address

    This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .

  2. The places running it

    4 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  3. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  4. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Horizon Clinical Research

    RECRUITING

    La Mesa, California, 91942, United States

  • Hospital for Special Surgery

    RECRUITING

    New York, New York, 10021, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute

    RECRUITING

    New Orleans, Louisiana, 70121, United States

  • Oregon Health & Science University

    RECRUITING

    Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States