Autologous Disc Chondrocyte Transplantation

Autologous Disc Chondrocyte Transplantation (ADCT): Definition

A chondrocyte from the Greek chondros meaning cartilage and kytos meaning cell is a cell, which is embedded in cartilaginous tissue and produces proteoglycans, which are used to build and maintain the structure of the cartilage. Autologous means self-donated or originating from the recipient’s own tissue. In this biological therapy chondrocyte cells are taken from patient’s disc and are multiplied in the lab. The enlarged number of chondrocytes is reinserted via a hollow needle into the patient’s disc(s). Research results show that these cultured cells will produce proteoglycans, once they are reinserted into the disc. Animal research has shown that nucleus regeneration is possible and human studies have shown that the progress of degenerative disc disease has been greatly retarded or stopped with Autologous Disc Chondrocyte Transplantation.