When Australian veterinary surgeon Isobel Monotti, BVSc MVS (Sydney, Australia), prepared for surgery on an energetic 11-month-old golden retriever named Maya, she knew this case would be different. The young dog presented with a persistent right forelimb lameness that worsened with exercise, an early sign that something more serious was affecting the shoulder joint.
Diagnostic imaging confirmed her suspicion of a large osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the humeral head. Commonly seen in young, large‑breed dogs, OCD is a developmental condition that affects joint cartilage and left untreated, can lead to ongoing pain, reduced mobility and early joint degeneration.
However, this puppy would become part of something new.
In the weeks leading up to surgery, clinical discussions between Dr. Monotti and Arthrex Australia Senior Product Manager Nina Clark explored emerging approaches to cartilage repair. It was through this engagement that the AutoCart™ technique was considered.
The AutoCart technique is an autogenous cartilage repair procedure that reuses the patient’s own damaged cartilage rather than discarding it. The cartilage is processed intraoperatively into a graft and reapplied to the defect, helping fill the damaged area with biologically compatible tissue, without harvesting cartilage from healthy areas or introducing synthetic implants.
That procedure marked the first canine AutoCart procedure performed in the APAC region, and only the sixth documented use in a canine patient worldwide, following three earlier cases in Germany and two in France. For Dr. Monotti, it was an opportunity to rethink how cartilage defects might be managed in young dogs with long, active lives ahead of them.
Traditionally, treatment for shoulder OCD in dogs involves removing the damaged cartilage and stimulating the underlying bone to encourage fibrous tissue repair. While this approach can be effective at relieving pain, it does not restore true articular cartilage and long‑term joint changes may still occur.
The AutoCart procedure offered a different possibility.
“What appealed to me was the potential to fill the defect with a greater proportion of articular cartilage,” Dr. Monotti said. “In a patient this young, with many active years ahead, that could make a meaningful difference over time.”
During surgery, a large cartilage flap associated with the OCD lesion was identified. Instead of removing and discarding it, Dr. Monotti carefully elevated the flap and processed it to create the AutoCart graft. The graft was then reapplied into the defect, filling the damaged area and restoring surface continuity.
From a surgical perspective, the procedure went smoothly.
“We were able to generate a high‑volume graft and fill the defect nicely,” Dr. Monotti said.
Postoperatively, the dog’s recovery has followed the expected course for a shoulder OCD procedure, with no early complications. While long-term follow up is ongoing, the early outcome has been encouraging and will continue to be closely monitored to better understand joint health over time.
For Dr. Monotti, the experience has already influenced her broader approach to cartilage repair in veterinary patients.
“This procedure has definitely shifted my thinking,” she said. “I’m now trialing the application of the AutoCart technique for treating elbow dysplasia and am optimistic about the role autogenous cartilage repair could play.”
While veterinary experience with the AutoCart procedure is still emerging, this first canine case in APAC highlights the growing crossover of cartilage repair concepts between human and veterinary orthopedics, and the shared goal of improving quality of life through innovation.
“This first canine AutoCart procedure case in APAC represents an important milestone,” said Nina. “It reflects Arthrex’s interest in exploring how core cartilage repair concepts may translate into new surgical environments and emerging markets.”
For Maya, it marked the start of a different path forward, and for veterinary medicine in the region, a meaningful step into the future of cartilage repair.