How does the CARTIHEAL◊ AGILI-C◊ Cartilage Repair Implant work?
The CARTIHEAL◊ AGILI-C◊ Cartilage Repair Implant is designed to repair damaged cartilage and bone in the knee joint. A recent study showed that patients treated with the CARTIHEAL Implant experienced significant relief of knee pain.1,2*
Treatment with the CARTIHEAL Implant requires a surgical procedure. The procedure typically has these steps:
 |
- The surgeon makes an incision along the knee and identifies the damaged cartilage.
|
 |
- A small hole is created to remove the damaged tissue.
|
 |
- The CARTIHEAL Implant is placed in the hole. It is made of calcium carbonate and serves as a “scaffold” for new tissue growth.1,3-7
|
 |
- Your body begins to replace the implant with new cartilage and bone.1,3,4
|
 |
- Within a time span of 12-18 months, your body has almost completely replaced the implant with new tissue.1,3,5
|
Results will vary. These are representative drawings only, not actual surgical results.
To learn more about the CARTIHEAL Implant, talk to your doctor. Ask if the CARTIHEAL Implant is a treatment option for your knee pain.
All information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not meant as medical advice. Not everyone is a candidate for knee repair with the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Cartilage Repair Implant, and individual results will vary. Every patient’s case is unique, and each patient should follow his or her doctor’s specific instructions. Potential risks include infection, transient or chronic pain, and swelling, among others, that may result in the need for additional medical intervention. Discuss your condition and options with your surgeon. If you are seeking this information in an emergency situation, please call 911 and seek emergency help.
◊Trademark of Smith+Nephew. 48716 12/2025
References
* Over a 2- and 4-year follow-up.
- Altschuler N, Zaslav KR, Di Matteo B, et al. Aragonite-Based Scaffold Versus Microfracture and Debridement for the Treatment of Knee Chondral and Osteochondral Lesions: Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2023;51(4):957-967.
- Conte P, Anzillotti G, Crawford DC, et al. Differential analysis of the impact of lesions' location on clinical and radiological outcomes after the implantation of a novel aragonite-based scaffold to treat knee cartilage defects. Int Orthop. 2024;48(12):3117-3126
- Kon E, Di Matteo B, Verdonk P, et al. Aragonite-Based Scaffold for the Treatment of Joint Surface Lesions in Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritic Knees: Results of a 2-Year Multicenter Prospective Study. Am J Sports Med. 2021;49(3):588-598.
- Kon E, Filardo G, Shani J, et al. Osteochondral regeneration with a novel aragonite-hyaluronate biphasic scaffold: up to 12-month follow-up study in a goat model. J Orthop Surg Res. 2015;10:81.
- Kon E, Robinson D, Verdonk P, et al. A novel aragonite-based scaffold for osteochondral regeneration: early experience on human implants and technical developments. Injury. 2016;47 Suppl 6:S27-S32.
- Chubinskaya S, Di Matteo B, Lovato L, Iacono F, Robinson D, Kon E. Agili-C implant promotes the regenerative capacity of articular cartilage defects in an ex vivo model. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019;27(6):1953-1964.
- Matta C, Szűcs-Somogyi C, Kon E, et al. Osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells is enhanced by an aragonite scaffold. Differentiation. 2019;107:24-34.
