CompletedNot Applicable

Spontaneous Healing of ARticular Cartilage (SHARC)

United Kingdom15 participantsStarted 2018-09-01

Plain-language summary

SHARC is an observational study of cartilage patients who are treated with surgery that involves obtaining a harvest biopsy. SHARC will study the natural healing process of the harvest biopsy site based on histological and biochemical analyses of repair tissue biopsies, synovial fluid biomarkers, medical imaging (MRI) and gait analysis.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Being able to provide signed and dated informed consent form. * Scheduled for one of the following surgical treatments * Surgery that involves the harvest of cartilage tissue as part of the treatment, thus creating a fresh cartilage defect, which is then left to heal naturally. Examples of such surgery are autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and mosaicplasty. * Autologous stromal cell implantation (ASCI), as part of the ASCOT randomised clinical trial. Exclusion Criteria: * Inadequate understanding of verbal explanations or written information given in English, or having special communication needs. * Chronic severe renal insufficiency * Anything that would preclude the individual's full compliance with or completion of the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Fraction of hyaline cartilage in harvest repair tissue

Timeframe: 1 year after tissue harvest

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04889443

SponsorKeele University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2023-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cartilage Damage trials