AMIC Compared With Microfracture for Focal Articular Cartilage Damage of the Hip (REPAIR)

Autologous MatRix-Induced ChondrogenEsis ComPared With Microfracture for Focal ArtIcular CaRtilage Damage of the Hip (REPAIR): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This is a pilot multi-centre RCT of 40 patients (ages 18-55 years, inclusive) undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with a focal articular cartilage defect of the acetabulum to compare the effect of using autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) in comparison to microfracture on hip function, health-related quality of life, hip pain, cartilage regeneration, health utility, and any adverse events at 2 years. Follow-up will occur at 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months post-surgery.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hip Arthroscopy; Articular Cartilage Defect; Microfractures
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Nicole Simunovic, MSc; Phone Number: 2892373224; Email: simunon@mcmaster.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N3Z5
      • Recruiting
      • McMaster University
      • Contact: Nicole Simunovic, MSc; Email: simunon@mcmaster.ca
      • Principal Investigator: Olufemi R. Ayeni, MD, PhD, FRCSC

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients aged 18-55 years
2. Hip pain lasting 6 months or more with no relief from documented non-operative modalities
3. Focal articular cartilage defects of the acetabulum on MRI, confirmed to be full thickness (International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) grade 3 or 4) during arthroscopic examination
4. Focal acetabular articular cartilage lesions measuring between 3 cm2 and 25 cm2 on MRI and confirmed on arthroscopic examination
5. Patient agrees to participate in the study-specific postoperative rehabilitation protocol
6. Patient can speak, read, and understand the language of the site
7. Patient has provided informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cartilage defects of the femoral head
2. Previous surgery on the study hip
3. Traumatic chondral injury of the hip from a single event
4. Presence of advanced osteoarthritis (Tonnis grade 3) or any other acute or chronic inflammatory joint disease
5. Known hypersensitivity or allergy to porcine collagen
6. Acute or chronic infection at the surgical site
7. Evidence of hip dysplasia (i.e., lateral centre edge angle < 20˚)
8. Evidence of acetabular over coverage such as coxa profunda or coxa protrusion
9. Immunosuppressive or anti-proliferative medication use
10. Chronic pain syndromes
11. Significant medical co-morbidities (requiring assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs))
12. History of paediatric hip disease
13. Uncontrolled diabetes
14. Contraindications to MRI imaging (e.g. claustrophobia)
15. Patient is involved in ongoing legal or workplace claims
16. Patient is incarcerated
17. Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding
18. Patient who will likely have problems, in the judgement of the investigator, with maintaining follow-up
19. Any other reason(s) the investigator feels is relevant for excluding the patient

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Microfracture; As per current standard of care for focal articular cartilage lesions of the acetabulum, the unstable cartilage will be debrided and removed from the subchondral bone using a mechanical shaver until a stable margin is obtained. A ring curette will be used to remove the calcified cartilage layer and create a border of healthy cartilage tissue that can support the marrow clot. Through the mid-anterior portal, specialized 90˚ awls will then be placed with the tip perpendicular to the subchondral bone of the acetabulum, and a mallet will be used to penetrate the subchondral bone with perforations 3 mm deep to access the bone marrow elements. This is done until the defect is homogeneously covered with micro-perforations 2-3 mm apart.	Procedure: Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC); AMIC is a novel approach in which the microfracture technique has been enhanced by the use of a type I/III collagen matrix (Chondro-Gide®; Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland). In this single-step procedure, the matrix is placed over the defect to stabilize the fragile blood clot that arises from microfracture and to provide infrastructure for repair tissue formation. Essentially, the matrix covers the defect and serves as a protective shield that contains the cells and minimizes the impact of shear forces when moving the hip on the delicate blood clot. At the same time, it functions as the roof of a biological chamber that forms over the defect. The biocompatible collagen material provides an environment for cell growth and is replaced by native tissue over time.; Other Names: Chondro-Gide(R)
Experimental: Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC); Those allocated to the AMIC treatment group will also receive microfracture. Once the walls of the debrided lesion are confirmed to be stable with a probe, the exact size of the defect will be measured for templating of the scaffold. The dry Chondro-Gide® matrix will be prepared by cutting it to 10% smaller than the focal defect (as it increases in size about 10% after moistening). Once the cartilage lesion is dried manually, the implant will then be secured to the defect in a press-fit fashion to the surrounding cartilage. Manual pressure is then applied to secure the implant into the defect and the hip is released from traction and rotated to facilitate further fixation of the graft. Traction is then applied to arthroscopically confirm position and fixation of the implant.	Procedure: Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC); AMIC is a novel approach in which the microfracture technique has been enhanced by the use of a type I/III collagen matrix (Chondro-Gide®; Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland). In this single-step procedure, the matrix is placed over the defect to stabilize the fragile blood clot that arises from microfracture and to provide infrastructure for repair tissue formation. Essentially, the matrix covers the defect and serves as a protective shield that contains the cells and minimizes the impact of shear forces when moving the hip on the delicate blood clot. At the same time, it functions as the roof of a biological chamber that forms over the defect. The biocompatible collagen material provides an environment for cell growth and is replaced by native tissue over time.; Other Names: Chondro-Gide(R)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hip function and health-related quality of life using the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33)	The iHOT-33 is designed to measure hip-specific health-related quality of life changes after treatment of active young patients with hip disorders. The total score is calculated as a simple mean of the responses ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the best possible quality-of-life score.	Change from baseline to 24 months post-surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hip pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); 100-point scale	To measure hip pain. The total score is calculated as a single response ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the worst possible pain.	Change from baseline to 24 months post-surgery
Health utility using the Euro-Qol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D); index score	Utility-based instrument for use as a measure of health outcome. Health state index scores generally range from less than 0 (where 0 is the value of a health state equivalent to dead; negative values representing values as worse than dead) to 1 (the value of full health), with higher scores indicating higher health utility.	Change from baseline to 24 months post-surgery
Total number of adverse events	Any reported complications such as infection, additional or revision surgery, hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, and reduced range of motion	24 months post-surgery
Cartilage repair using the Magnetic Resonance Evaluation of the Repair of Cartilage in the Hip Score (MERCH) (scored from 0-100)	To evaluate cartilage repair in the hip using MRI imaging. The total score is calculated as a simple mean of the responses ranging from 0 to 100, with 0 representing the worst cartilage status.	Change from baseline to 24 months post-surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: McMaster University
• Collaborators: Geistlich Pharma AG

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 13, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 25, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 2, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Fractures, Bone; Fractures, Stress
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14981

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No