Verified By Apollo Hospitals June 12, 2019
Cartilage is the white, flexible but firm connective tissue, which covers the ends of the bones. Cartilage provides a smooth cushion, letting the bones of the joint to move effortlessly without painful contact. Although cartilage is tough, it can be damaged either suddenly due to an injury or degenerate from general wear and tear or due to any infection or inflammatory disease.
Pain and swelling in the knee joint. Locking sensation in the knee, which interferes with the ability to stand or walk. In some injuries, a piece of cartilage can be detached and behave like a “loose body” in the joint which affects the movement and causes pain.
The doctor will perform a physical examination and evaluate the symptoms. X-ray to see for any bone fracture or dislocation in cases of injury and reduced joint space and sclerosis of bone ends and osteophyte or loose body formation in degenerative cases. Cartilage is not seen on x-ray. MRI Scan is useful in some patients.
Non Operative – Rest, lifestyle modification and weight loss, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy to strengthen the muscles, changing footwear, taping or bracing.
Surgical Treatment – Injured cartilage typically does not heal on its own, so doctors have developed several surgical techniques that attempt to repair, regenerate, and replace cartilage.
Knee Cartilage Repair
A surgeon uses special tools to remove tattered and frayed cartilage and smoothen the remaining cartilage surface. This cartilage contouring decreases joint friction, which in turn may:
The clinical term for surgery to reshape the knee cartilage is called “knee chondroplasty”. While ‘Chondro’ denotes cartilage, ‘plasty’ means to mold or form. Chondroplasty can be done on the articular cartilage of the knee, meniscus, or both.
Knee debridement
Knee chondroplasty is often performed together with debridement. During knee debridement the surgeon removes potential irritants to the joint, such as loose pieces of cartilage, and flushes the joint with a saline solution (lavage).
Knee Cartilage Regeneration
Cartilage tissue’s ability to repair itself is severely limited because it does not contain blood vessels, and bleeding is necessary for healing. A surgeon may encourage the growth of new cartilage by making small abrasions or cuts in the bone beneath the injured cartilage. The hope is that the blood from the damaged bone will facilitate new cartilage cell growth.
There are three common knee cartilage regeneration techniques that use bleeding to spur cartilage healing:
Knee Cartilage Replacement
Most knee cartilage replacement surgeries are called OATs surgeries—either osteochondral autograft transplantation or osteochondral allograft transplantation surgeries. A third option is called autologous chondrocyte implantation.
Osteochondral autograft transplantation uses cartilage from the patient.
Osteochondral allograft transplantation uses cartilage from outside the patient, usually from a cadaver.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation relies on newly grown cartilage cells. It requires two surgeries.
What cartilage replacement procedure is used will depend on the size of the cartilage injury being treated as well as the surgeon’s expertise and recommendation.
Stem Cell And PRP Therapy
A surgeon preforming knee cartilage repair, regeneration, or replacement surgery may use stem cells or Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) in hope of encouraging new cartilage cell growth.
Both stem cells and platelets are involved in the body’s natural healing process and the restoration of damaged tissue. Stem cell and PRP therapies are generally considered safe. Research regarding whether or not they are effective is ongoing.
Conclusion
While surgeries to repair, regenerate and replace the cartilage are becoming more common, they are not suggested for everyone. Generally, these surgeries are most successful in patients who are:
Two isolated injuries to the cartilage are called ‘localized cartilage damage’. Individuals with extensive cartilage damage, like that found in moderate-to-severe knee osteoarthritis, are generally not candidates for surgical repair, regeneration or replacement of the cartilage.
These surgeries are elective, meaning a physician may recommend surgery but it is left to the patient’s discretion whether or not to have it. They are typically performed on an outpatient basis.
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