ABICUS stands for Autologous Bone Marrow Cells, University Hospital Southampton
The procedure is derived from research into the use of bone marrow derived stem cells to treat cartilage defects in the knee. In the right environment bone marrow cells taken from the pelvis can transform into cartilage. This is the basis for the ABICUS trial that was undertaken by Gorav Datta at University Hospital Southampton. Patients with knee cartilage defects underwent surgery. All patients had a better outcome than those that underwent microfracture (the traditional treatment for cartilage defects where holes are made in the bone).
Full thickness cartilage defect in the knee
Bone Marrow Cells harvested from the Pelvis
Cell separation in the operating theatre
Biological scaffold where cells are placed
Defect covered with cells on biological scaffold