Osteochondral lesions, with their limited healing potential, are difficult to treat and remain a problem for orthopedic surgeons. A new osteochondral regenerative surgical approach using a biomimetic osteochondral scaffold is evaluated and compared in a randomized controlled trial to conventional microfracture technique or subchondral drilling. Patients will be prospectively clinically evaluated before the treatment, at 6, 12, and 24 month follow-up and biological characteristics of osteochondral fragments and bone biomarkers will be examined.

The primary objective of the present clinical study is to demonstrate the efficacy of the treatment of osteochondral lesions with a biomimetic osteochondral scaffold.

Unit 1
WP Coordinator: Elizaveta Kon, MD, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366567    E-mail: e.kon@biomec.ior.it
Orthopaedic surgeon of II Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic and researcher of Biomechanics Laboratory. She is responsible for the clinical and research activity monitoring the study design, patient enrolment, treatment and evaluation.

Unit 2
Unit Leader:  Dr. Gina Lisignoli, PhD, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366803  E-mail: gina.lisignoli@unibo.it
Senior researcher of Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue Regeneration. She is responsible for the characterization of the properties of the osteochondral tissue and analysis of bone biomarkers.

Unit 3
Unit Leader: Ugo Albisinni, MD, IOR
Phone +39-051-6366836  Email: ugo.albisinni@ior.it
Director of Department of Radiology and Imaging. He is responsible for the imaging evaluation, follow-up, and analysis of the results obtained in the clinical study.