Osteochondral Autograft Transfer (OATS)

Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS) is an advanced cartilage restoration procedure used to treat localized cartilage defects in the knee. In this technique, a small cylindrical plug of healthy cartilage and underlying bone is taken from a non-weight-bearing area of the joint and transplanted into the damaged cartilage region. This method restores the joint surface with natural hyaline cartilage, providing better durability and function compared to other techniques. For larger cartilage defects, donor grafts (allografts) may be used. OATS is considered one of the most effective biological resurfacing procedures for deep cartilage injuries that do not respond to simpler treatments.