Don’t let the pain and limitations of cartilage damage hold you back.
If you are diagnosed with cartilage damage or a defect, your doctor may choose to incorporate a cartilage repair treatment plan for your specific needs. This may be in addition to other procedures for soft-tissue or bony injuries, which often occur in conjunction with cartilage injury, to provide you a comprehensive treatment approach.
What Is Cartilage?
What Is a Cartilage Defect?
What Happens If I Don’t Treat My Damaged Cartilage?
Knee Injuries Often Happen in Combination
Cartilage lesions can happen for many reasons, and they often happen in conjunction with other knee problems. Learning more about these related injuries can help you make sense of your pain and understand treatment options.
Traumatic Injury
Sometimes cartilage gets hurt during a sudden accident. This might happen during sports, a fall, or a car crash. When the bones in your knee hit or twist the wrong way, they can scrape or “scuff” the cartilage. This can also cause other structures in the knee, like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus, to tear.
Ligament Instability
Your knee has several ligaments that help keep it stable. If one of these ligaments is stretched or torn, your knee can become loose. Over time, this extra movement can damage the cartilage.
Meniscus Damage
The meniscus is a rubbery shock absorber in your knee. It can tear during an injury or simply wear down as you get older. When the meniscus is damaged, the joint loses support, which puts more stress on the cartilage.
Knee Misalignment
Some people have knees that tilt or rotate in a way that puts more pressure on one side of the joint. Over time, this uneven pressure can create a small cartilage defect that slowly becomes worse.
Chronic Health Conditions
Certain long-term conditions—like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or diabetes—can weaken the knee’s tissues. Some of these conditions are treated with steroids, which may also affect cartilage health.
AutoCart™ Procedure
Cartiform® Allograft
Autograft OATS® Technique
Allograft OATS® Technique
BioUni® Technique
IntraOsseous BioPlasty® (IOBP®) Technique
What to Expect During Recovery From Cartilage Treatment
Recovery from a cartilage lesion can take time. In fact, it often takes longer than healing from a meniscus or ligament injury alone. That’s because cartilage heals more slowly, and your knee needs extra protection as the new tissue strengthens.
Every patient’s recovery journey is different. Here are a few common things your health care team may recommend based on your specific needs:
Your doctor may ask you to use crutches or wear a knee brace for a while. This helps keep weight off your knee and protects the healing area.
At first, you may not be able to bend or straighten your knee very much. Your care team will explain how much movement is safe and when you can progress with motion and weight-bearing.
Once your knee is ready, physical therapy becomes a key part of getting better. PT helps you rebuild strength, improve movement, and get back to your normal activities safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to your questions about what to expect from your cartilage repair procedure.
Why is my doctor recommending cartilage repair?
Because cartilage does not have its own blood supply, it lacks the important healing elements contained in blood. When it becomes damaged, treatment may be recommended to help repair the osteochondral lesion and support your body’s natural healing process.
Not all osteochondral lesions need to be repaired. But if your doctor determines you have a lesion that would benefit from treatment, they may recommend cartilage repair to help reduce the potential for future damage or deterioration.
Your doctor will choose the best joint preservation procedure(s) for your specific needs, cartilage lesion, and activity goals. This could be in addition to recommended treatments for other injuries or conditions.
Before starting a treatment plan, your doctor may use extremely minimally invasive Nano arthroscopy tools to examine your cartilage damage and determine which treatment might be best.
Why are there so many cartilage repair treatment options?
Cartilage repair is not one size fits all. If your doctor determines that your cartilage damage requires treatment, they will evaluate factors including defect size, depth, and location to help determine the best procedure to support your needs and recovery goals.
The vast Arthrex joint preservation portfolio allows surgeons to develop customized treatment plans designed to support each patient’s optimal healing and desired post-procedure goals.
Will getting a joint preservation treatment procedure now help me avoid a joint replacement?
Treating symptomatic cartilage damage is key to helping prevent further injury, arthritis, and/or the potential need for total joint replacement.
While joint preservation procedures are designed to repair damaged cartilage, prevent further deterioration, and support surrounding structures, there is no guarantee that a future joint procedure or replacement will not be needed. Talk to your doctor about your specific needs and treatment plan.
How do I know if I am a candidate?
Your doctor may request specialized x-rays to check alignment, updated MRI and/or possible diagnostic arthroscopy, and others to help your doctor understand the entire joint space and make informed decisions about which procedure(s) are advised to preserve your joint.
Ready to Discuss Your Treatment?
Use this information to help guide your conversation with your doctor about cartilage restoration and Arthrex joint preservation solutions. Let us help you navigate your treatment journey.
