New 3D-Printed knee patch could help regrow damaged cartilage

NCT ID NCT07639424

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether adding a 3D-printed patch made from a patient's own knee fat tissue to standard microfracture surgery helps regrow knee cartilage better than surgery alone. About 104 adults with large cartilage defects will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Researchers will measure knee function, pain, and cartilage regrowth on MRI over one year.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

a 3D-printed patch made from the patient's own knee fat tissue

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a better way to repair knee cartilage damage, reducing pain and improving knee function for people with large defects.

What could go wrong

This is a relatively small, early-phase trial (104 people), so results may not apply to everyone. The procedure is complex and involves two surgeries, which carries risks like infection or poor healing.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

articular cartilage disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Bundang Seoul National University Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, South Korea

  • Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14647, South Korea

  • Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Goyang, Incheon, 21431, South Korea

  • Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, 58128, South Korea

  • Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, 14220, South Korea

  • Chung-Ang University Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Seoul, Seoul, 6973, South Korea

  • Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Seoul, Seoul, 7804, South Korea

  • Gachon University Gil Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Incheon, Incheon, 21565, South Korea

  • Hanyang University Guri Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do, 11923, South Korea

  • Inha University Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Incheon, Incheon, 22332, South Korea

  • Jeonbuk National University Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 54907, South Korea

  • Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong

    RECRUITING

    Seoul, Seoul, 5278, South Korea

  • Yeungnam University Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Daegu, Daegu, 42415, South Korea