Mosaicplasty, which is also known as ‘transplantation of osteochondral autograft’, is a comparatively new procedure which is considered for defects of up to about three centimeters in diameter, and which gives good to very good results in 70% to 90% of cases.

In the procedure, cylinders of cartilage from areas of the joint which are less subject to stress / load-bearing are removed together with the underlying bone and transplanted into the cartilage defect. This technique is especially appropriate for cartilage damage in the knee and ankle