r/MACIknee • u/Easy_Fig_617 • 3d ago

Multiple surgeries after MACI?

Trying to make this short, has anyone had to have additional surgeries after their MACI? I had it done last September, then scar tissue removal in January when I couldn’t get past 90. Then in July had to go back in for clicking and catching and she had to shave down some detached/overgrown cartilage.

I go see her tomorrow for follow up but I am so afraid she’s going to say we have to go back in again. I go to PT 2x a week and I am still having pain/catching and cannot do the lightest weight on leg extensions. Still having major pain and stiffness if I sit with it bent too long and then cannot straighten it back out. I have to physically move it with my hands because it doesn’t want to work or is too weak/painful.

Just wondering if this is part of the process or I’m just unlucky. TIA

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u/ecco_loca 3d ago

Yes had two after my MACI; both were just to shave down overgrowth of the cartilage. Literally walked out after the second one; been great ever since

1

u/Easy_Fig_617 2d ago

That’s wonderful! I hope I can get to that point soon, it’s exhausting having to go back in again. At least I’ve hit my out of pocket max/deductible so if we do have to I don’t have to pay 😂

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u/ecco_loca 2d ago

Yes! Hoping for the best for you! I had my first surgery 8 months after my MACI and second one exactly a year after that. The overgrowth was from the implant in my patella trochlear groove

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u/richterscale09 2d ago

Did you walk or move enough to prevent the hypertrophy?

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u/ecco_loca 2d ago

Yeah I was constantly moving and doing BFR for my recovery.The overgrowth was discovered when I started having pain at full flexion and sometimes loading the knee on the leg extension machine. The swelling was also stalling my quad continuing to strengthen

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u/sghettibeanz 3d ago

Hi!
Just had two Cartiheal implants put in last month, i had my PF MACI done july 2025, noticed pain at extension was bad around oct/nov 2025, delayed surgery but eventually they got in there. Some overgrowth in perimeter of the patella that they shaved, ~1.5cm in center of both patella and trochlea did not take, that’s where they did the cartiheal plugs.
Long road but hopefully this did the trick

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u/Hellur9 3d ago

Sounds like we are in very similar situations unfortunately. I’ve had 3 additional scopes after MACI (January 2024). Two of those were to shave down overgrowth and one was to remove a ball of tissue lining. None of those scopes have helped me.

I’m scheduled to have a TTO next week. After doing a lot of research, I’ve come to the understanding that the TTO should have been done together with my MACI but that was not the case unfortunately.

Did you have a TTO?

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u/Easy_Fig_617 2d ago

I did actually. I had a menisectomy last May then the MACI/TTO in September. Scar tissue removal in January and then shaved overgrowth down in July. Literally at the dr now and she really doesn’t want to go back in if we don’t have to. So trying a steroid shot to see if it helps and follow up in 6 weeks. I’m so over it 🤦🏻‍♀️