KNEE
CARTIHEAL◊ AGILI-C◊ Cartilage Repair Implant
Learn about a new treatment to repair cartilage and bone in the knee. The CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Cartilage Repair Implant is changing the game on knee repair.
Overview
The CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Cartilage Repair Implant is designed to repair damage in the cartilage and bone of the knee, including damage caused by arthritis. Patients treated with the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant have reported significant relief of knee pain and improved knee function.1-2*
What is the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant?
The CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant is designed to help grow new tissue in the knee to treat damaged cartilage and bone. It’s a small implant that gets inserted into damaged cartilage and serves as “scaffolding” for the growth of new tissue.1,3-7 Over time, the implant is resorbed by the body.1,3,5 The new cartilage remains.
What are the benefits of the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant?
The CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant has been shown to provide positive results for patients, including improvements in pain, function, and quality of life:1,2*
Is the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant right for me?
To find out if the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant is a treatment option, make an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon. The surgeon will examine your knee and review your health situation in determining if cartilage repair is recommended.
To find a CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant surgeon near you, use our locator:
How does it work?
Treatment with the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Implant involves a surgical procedure. These are the typical steps in the process:
(Results will vary. These are representative drawings only, not actual surgical results.)
Results will vary. These are representative drawings only, not actual surgical results.
Supporting information
What are the risks involved?
There may be complications when you have this surgery. The risks and side effects associated with the CARTIHEAL Agili-C Implant are similar to the risks associated with similar types of orthopedic surgical treatments and include the following:
Temporary or ongoing pain
Temporary or ongoing swelling or inflammation at the surgical site
Temporary or ongoing limited range of motion, stiffness
Fever
Allergic response
Bone fracture
Bone deformity
The implant might loosen, break, or tear due to an accident or activity
Infection on the surface of the incision or within the wound itself
Bruising
Talk to your surgeon to learn more about the possible risks for your specific health situation.
Disclaimers
* Over 2 and 4 year follow-up; compared to standard of care (microfracture or debridement).
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. 46750 3/2025
Citations
- 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.
- Smith+Nephew. CARTIHEAL Agili-C Implant Device Lifetime Memo. RDD-0001641. 2024.