*3.1. Demography*

Fifteen patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. The control group underwent microfracture, and the study group underwent Kartigen® implantation. No patients were withdrawn from this trial. The flow chart of the study is shown in Figure S1. The demographic information of the patients is shown in Table 1. There was no significant difference in age between the two groups, but the defect sizes were significantly different.


**Table 1.** Demography of the patients.

\* Note: The defect size of the Kartigen® group was significantly larger than that of microfracture group (*p* < 0.005).
