Biologic Knee Graft Lets 43-Year-Old Avoid Implant at Policlinico di Bari

Surgeons at the Policlinico di Bari performed a precision biologic knee surgery on a 43‑year‑old woman with a deep lesion of the inner femoral condyle caused by osteochondritis dissecans. Led by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Lorenzo Moretti and overseen by Professor Giuseppe Solarino, the team removed the damaged cartilage and sub‑chondral bone and replaced it with an osteochondral graft taken from a donor. The graft was shaped to match the patient’s anatomy using a 3‑D‑printed surgical guide derived from a reconstructed model of the joint.

The procedure avoided the need for a metal prosthetic implant, preserving the patient’s natural joint and allowing biological integration of the graft. Post‑operative weeks are expected to see the patient’s own cells colonise the graft, restoring vitality and vascularisation. The case is presented as a model for modern biological orthopaedic solutions aimed at younger patients, highlighting the role of 3‑D planning and donor tissue in joint preservation.