Knee Cartilage Repair Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Product Type (Microfracture Devices, Scaffolds, Osteochondral Dart), By Cartilage Type (Fibrocartilage, Hyaline Cartilage), By Type of Cells (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers), Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Cartilage, a soft and flexible material, which serves as connective tissue, is present in various parts of the body. Knee cartilage is a fine & flexible cushion-like tissue which holds the bones of knee joints together and reduces the friction between knee joints. However, damage to the knee cartilage can be caused during vigorous sports activities, congenital abnormalities, and hormonal disorders.

There are various surgical treatment approaches for knee cartilage repair. The most common of these are the marrow stimulation techniques and autologous chondrocyte implantation. In 2017, Vericel Corporation announced the first MACI implant for the treatment of symptomatic cartilage knee defects in the U.S. MACI is an autologous cell-based scaffold, which received FDA approval in 2016 for knee cartilage repair in an adult with defective or damaged tissue, which is further expected to boost the global knee cartilage repair market. Several studies were conducted to follow the use of regenerative stem cell therapy for knee cartilage repair. 

The increased incidence of knee injuries, better imaging techniques to detect cartilage damage, and favorable health reimbursements are the main factors driving the growth in global knee cartilage repair market. In addition, the use of regenerative stem cells for knee cartilage repair is also expected to drive the global knee cartilage repair market. 

However, shortage of skilled professionals for performing knee cartilage repair surgeries in developed and emerging countries, and strict government regulation for the approval of scaffolds are the factors that can hamper the growth of global knee cartilage repair market. 

Key Players Covered 

Some of the major companies present in the global knee cartilage repair market are Arthrex, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Smith and Nephew, MEDIPOST, Histogenics, Isto Biologics, Vericel Corporation, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., CellGenix, and other players. 

SEGMENTATION 

Among the cartilage type, the hyaline cartilage segment is projected to have fast growth during the forecast period, mainly due to the new product launches. In September 2017, CO.DON AG, a company focussed on treating articular cartilage damage, launched Spherox in the European market. Spherox is expected to deliver a high level of personalized healing in knee cartilage repair, augmenting the growth of hyaline cartilage segment. 

Key Insights 

• Number of knee cartilage repair surgery – for key countries
• Cost of knee cartilage repair surgery – for key countries
• Pricing analysis
• Reimbursement scenario for key countries
• Key mergers and acquisitions 

Regional Analysis 

The global knee cartilage repair market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period, due to the rise of government and private funding on regenerative stem cells and increased research for the use of scaffolds in the autologous chondrocyte implantation procedure. Aesculap, Inc., a B. Braun Melsungen AG company, is conducting a phase 3 clinical trial for NOVOCART 3D, a tissue-engineered cell-based product designed for knee cartilage repair. The product is under investigation to get FDA approval in the U.S., but it is already being used in European countries. The entry of NOVOCART 3D in the U.S. is further going to expand the knee cartilage repair market in North America. In Europe and Asia Pacific, the knee cartilage repair market is anticipated to have a significant growth by 2025, due to the increased number of cases of orthopedic knee injuries and improving health infrastructure.  

Key Industry Developments

• In September 2017, CO.DON AG launched Spherox for distribution in European regions, starting from marketing activities in Germany. Spherox received marketing approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in May 2017.
• In June 2018, BioGend Therapeutics, announced the completion of enrolment for the clinical trial of Biphasic Cartilage Repair Implant (BiCRI) technology which is a one-step autologous cartilage knee repair treatment.
• In February 2017, Vericel Corporation announced the first MACI implant for the treatment of symptomatic cartilage knee defects in the U.S., which is an autologous cell-based scaffold approved by the FDA in December 2016.
• CartiHeal, Inc., is conducting clinical research study on its investigational devices named Agili-C, for the treatment of osteochondral and cartilage defects.
• Regentis Biomaterial Ltd., a company focussed on tissue repair, is conducting clinical study GelrinC, for the repair of articular cartilage damage of knee