Treatment for Articular Cartilage Damage in the Knee

What Is an Articular Cartilage Defect?

The articular or hyaline cartilage is the tissue lining the surface of the two bones in the knee joint, which helps the bones move smoothly against each other. Articular cartilage does not have a direct blood supply to it, so has less capacity to repair itself. Once the cartilage is torn it will not heal easily and can lead to degeneration of the articular surface, leading to the development of osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage can be damaged by trauma such as accidents, mechanical injury such as a fall or from degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) occurring in elderly people.

The symptoms of articular cartilage damage include joint pain, swelling, stiffness and a decrease in the range of motion of the knee.

What Are the Treatment Options for Articular Cartilage Defects?

The damaged articular cartilage in the knee will need to be replaced with healthy cartilage. The procedure is known as cartilage replacement. This surgical procedure replaces the worn-out cartilage and treats small areas of cartilage damage. It is not recommended for advanced arthritis of the knee.

Cartilage replacement helps relieve pain, restore normal function, and can delay or prevent the onset of arthritis. The goal of cartilage replacement procedures is to stimulate the growth of new hyaline cartilage. Various arthroscopic procedures involved in cartilage replacement include:

• Microfracture
• Drilling
• Abrasion arthroplasty
• Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)
• Osteochondral autograft transplantation

Are you suffering from Chondral or Articular Cartilage defects? Let us help. Whether surgical or non-surgical, we will work with you to find the best treatment option for you.