Woman has first 'grow your own' knee transplant

The treatment uses a 3D implant grown with the patient's own healthy cells which is glued into the damaged knee cartilage.

Unlike existing cartilage repair systems which take months to grow, it takes just two weeks to get enough cells for the operation.

They are sent off to a laboratory overseas and seeded into a platform which becomes ready for use within 11 to 15 days.

Patients can be walking normally in six to 12 weeks after surgery - and ready for a new sporting life, say surgeons.

Teacher Shivaun McGuckin, 38, is the first Briton to receive the implant on the NHS as part of a nationwide study after her knee 'locked' while bending down.

Conventional cartilage repair failed and she faced bone grafting before doctors could have attempted to repair her worn out cartilage. But after having the treatment last week she is well on the road to recovery.

Doctors believe the technique could help around half of young patients who find themselves battling osteoarthritis and cartilage damage. People aged between 20 and 50 are prime candidates for the new technique, known as the CaReS cartilage regeneration system, which has been used to treat around 1,000 patients worldwide.

Mother of two Mrs McGuckin had increasing difficulty doing everyday activities and had stopped doing exercise because of the pain caused by her injury.

Mrs McGuckin, who lives near Maesteg, south Wales, with husband Damien and sons Tadhg (correct) aged 10 and Conn, aged six, first realised the extent of the damage when she had to pull out of training for her first marathon. She said "The cartilage had gone down to the bone and taken some bone with it.

"It was increasingly painful, I couldn't run around after the children and I need to be active for my job.

"I've always been sporty,running, playing rugby and hockey, and going to the gym. I was training hard for the marathon but a month beforehand the pain was too much' she added.

She feared having to wait for a knee replacement as doctors normally postpone such major surgery until patients reach their mid 40s and older.

"I'm still young and I didn't want to be getting slower and slower, and then my knee locked into the bent position and I had to have something done."

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Amit Chandratreya of Neath and Port Talbot Hospital, is among the specialists trained to use the new technique.

He applied successfully for NHS funding for the £3,000 operation, which was carried out last week.

Other methods of cartilage transplantation using the patient's own cells from a healthy part of the cartilage take longer, he said.

"Previously it took three to six months to get the implant back, which is only a 2D version. It's a flat implant that has to be stitched in place to repair the defect in the cartilage.

"The CareS system is the first 3D implant so it fits the shape of the defect leaving no gaps and we simply glue it into place.

"It has a special membrane that is ready for use within about two weeks of the patient's cells being sent away.

"They are grown into a bigger supply within the matrix in the laboratory and it's sent back to us. The operation takes about an hour and after a few days the patient can leave hospital for rehabilitation at home.

"It's still experimental and a study is now underway in this country but there are good results from other countries where it has been in use for some time.

"It's a step forward compared with existing treatments and has the potential to be much more convenient for patients, especially those aged between 20 and 50 years," he added.

Mrs McGuckin, who spent four days in hospital, is hoping to get back to a sporting life again.

She said: "I feel very optimistic, Mr Chandratreya has been fantastic and it really looks as though I'll be able to return to all the normal activities you'd expect to do at my age."

Dr Jason Loveridge, chief executive of Arthro Kinetics, whcih makes the system, said: "Our CaReS technology offers a genuine regeneration solution to patients and with over 1,000 patients already implanted in Europe we look forward to equally positive outcomes in the UK."

Phil Davies, managing director of distributors' Plus Orthopaedics UK said: "The options now open to the surgeon are considerably enhanced and I'm sure this type of treatment will lead to a much better success rate for patients who are experiencing problems."