Application Detail

Description of Medical Service

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation aims to stimulate new cartilage production by encouraging the growth of cartilage cells (chondrocytes), which are responsible for production and maintenance of cartilage tissue. Healthy articular cartilage is harvested from the knee joint and sent to a laboratory, where the chondrocytes are isolated from the cartilage and expanded in a test tube or dish. Approximately five weeks after biopsy collection, the cultured chondrocytes are seeded onto a collagen scaffold. The scaffold/chondrocyte implant is then fixed in place at the injury site.

Description of Medical Condition

Symptomatic loss of joint cartilage of the knee. Symptoms include pain, swelling, joint stiffness and joint clicking or locking. Joint cartilage (also called hyaline cartilage) has no blood vessels and therefore has limited potential for self-repair. Therefore, if left untreated, cartilage injury often progresses to osteoarthritis in the affected joint.

Reason for Application

New MBS item

Medical Service Type

Therapeutic technology

Previous Application Number/s

Not Applicable

Associated Documentation

Application Summary and PICO Set

Application Summary (PDF 400 KB)
Application Summary (Word 30 KB)

PICO Set (PDF 1280 KB)
PICO Set (Word 546 KB)

Consultation Survey

Consultation Survey (PDF 653 KB)
Consultation Survey (Word 32 KB)

PASC Consultation
PASC consultation closed 15 March 2024

MSAC Consultation
MSAC consultation TBA – please subscribe to the MSAC Email Bulletin to be notified when consultation opens for this application

For further information please refer to PASC, ESC, MSAC Key Dates
For further information on the consultation process please refer to MSAC Consultation Process

PICO Confirmation

PICO Confirmation (PDF 778 KB)
PICO Confirmation (Word 337 KB)

Assessment Report

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Public Summary Document

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Meetings for this Application

PASC

18–19 April 2024

ESC

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MSAC

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