Treatment Costs of Matrix-Associated Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Compared With Microfracture: Results of a Matched-Pair Claims Data Analysis on the Treatment of Cartilage Knee Defects in Germany

This was the first study to analyze a large representative population claims database with propensity score matching, and results indicated that follow-up costs of patients treated with MACI and MFX began to converge over time. We found that total costs for MACI were higher than for MFX but that additional costs for MACI were lower than previously reported. Perceived morbidity may have little to do with cost.