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Figure 12. Technique for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). A defect is prepared so that it is surrounded by normal, healthy cartilage. A small flap of soft tissue (periosteum) is removed from the tibia to be used as a cover flap. This periosteum is sewn over the defect, and treated with a sealant (fibrin) to avoid leakage of injected cells. Cartilage precursor cells harvested at a previous surgery and grown for 6 weeks (called "chondrocytes") are injected beneath the flap.
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