New 3D-Printed knee patch could help regrow damaged cartilage
NCT ID NCT07639424
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 5 times
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.
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
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 104 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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19 to 64 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.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Adults aged 19 years to \<65 years at the time of consent. * Cartilage lesion severity of the target knee is ICRS grade 3 or 4. * Focal cartilage defect size in the target knee is ≥5 cm² and ≤10 cm². * The target knee is clinically considered to require microfracture, or microfracture with high tibial osteotomy (HTO). * Able and willing to provide written informed consent after receiving a full explanation of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Traumatic or secondary osteoarthritis (Secondary OA) in the target knee. * Inflammatory arthritis in the target knee (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, pseudogout, Behçet's disease, etc.). * Currently receiving immunosuppressive therapy or having a serious systemic disease (e.g., severe cardiovascular disease; long-term use of immunosuppressants; cancer patient receiving chemotherapy; systemic autoimmune disease; severe liver or kidney disease; uncontrolled endocrine disease, etc.). * Advanced severe osteoarthritis in the target knee (Kellgren-Lawrence \[KL\] grade 4). * Lower-limb malalignment that may affect the surgical plan (e.g., varus deformity with varus angle ≥15°). * Within 5 years prior to Visit 1, a history of osteomyelitis of the target knee, a diagnosis of malignancy, or recurrent malignancy (participants with benign tumors may be eligible if the investigator judges that there will be no impact on study conduct during the study period). * Body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m². * Clinically significant knee instability in the target knee that is not expected to be improved by the study procedure (e.g., complete or partial tears of major ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, or lateral collateral ligament). * Prior surgery for treatment of a cartilage defect in the target knee (diagnostic arthroscopy only is allowed). * History of major structural surgery of the target knee (diagnostic arthroscopy only is allowed). Participants with prior HTO may be eligible at the investigator's discretion if the knee structure is stable without critical defects. * Intra-articular injection of any biologic or pharmacologic agent into the target knee within 3 months prior to Visit 1 (e.g., hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma, autologous cell therapy, cytokine inhibitors, etc.). * Use of systemic corticosteroids within 1 month prior to Visit 1. * Participant or partner is a woman of childbearing potential and the participant does not agree to use an effective method of contraception during the study period, including any of the following: 1. Sterilization procedure of the participant or partner (vasectomy; bilateral oophorectomy and salpingectomy/tubal ligation; hysterectomy) 2. Intrauterine device (IUD), including copper IUD or hormone-releasing intrauterine system 3. Non-oral hormonal contraception or spermicide used in combination with a barrier method 4. Cervical cap or diaphragm used in combination with a male condom * Pregnant or breastfeeding. * Participation in another clinical trial and receipt of an investigational medical device within 6 months prior to Visit 1. * Any other condition that, in the opinion of the principal investigator (or delegated study staff), makes the participant unsuitable for participation in the study.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
13 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bundang Seoul National University Hospital
RECRUITINGSeongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, South Korea
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Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital
RECRUITINGBucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14647, South Korea
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Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGGoyang, Incheon, 21431, South Korea
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Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital
RECRUITINGHwasun, Jeollanam-do, 58128, South Korea
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Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital
RECRUITINGGwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, 14220, South Korea
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Chung-Ang University Hospital
RECRUITINGSeoul, Seoul, 6973, South Korea
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Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGSeoul, Seoul, 7804, South Korea
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Gachon University Gil Medical Center
RECRUITINGIncheon, Incheon, 21565, South Korea
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Hanyang University Guri Hospital
RECRUITINGGuri-si, Gyeonggi-do, 11923, South Korea
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Inha University Hospital
RECRUITINGIncheon, Incheon, 22332, South Korea
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Jeonbuk National University Hospital
RECRUITINGJeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 54907, South Korea
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Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong
RECRUITINGSeoul, Seoul, 5278, South Korea
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Yeungnam University Medical Center
RECRUITINGDaegu, Daegu, 42415, South Korea
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