Knee Cartilage Replacement: A Lasting Solution to Restore Mobility

Knee cartilage injuries make it difficult to walk, run or otherwise be active, seriously compromising your quality of life. Knee cartilage replacement is a treatment approach that can provide relief and get you back to your normal activities—and our team of experienced orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh can help.  

We’ll take a closer look at what causes knee cartilage damage and consider options for resolving the condition. 

What is the Purpose of Knee Cartilage?

There are two kinds of cartilage in the knee: articular cartilage and meniscal cartilage.

• Articular cartilage covers the end of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shinbone) and helps the knee joint glide easily to produce smooth, low-friction movement. 
• Meniscal cartilage acts as a cushion or shock absorber between the femur and tibia, preventing the bones from grinding against each other. 

What Causes Knee Cartilage Damage?

Knee pain can have many causes and affect people of all ages. If your pain is related to knee cartilage damage, you may experience knee pain and tenderness, swelling, and locking of the knee that makes it difficult to move the knee and engage in physical activities.

Knee cartilage damage can happen due to: 

• Acute injury during sports
• Overuse of the knee from sports or non-sports activities
• Sudden twists, bends or direct blows the knee 
• Damage in the underlying bone, causing cartilage to come loose
• Degeneration that happens when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time, known as osteoarthritis

What Options Exist to Replace Knee Cartilage? Knee Cartilage Replacement Treatments 

While many knee conditions can be treated non-surgically, and others with a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as arthroscopy, knee cartilage replacement involves surgical intervention. Also called cartilage restoration or regeneration, this procedure replaces worn-out or damaged cartilage with new cartilage, sometimes grafting healthy tissue from a non-weight-bearing area of the same joint and transplanting it to the affected area.

Surgical treatment options for knee cartilage damage include:

• Microfracture: This approach involves creating tiny holes in one or more bones in the knee joint beneath the damaged cartilage to stimulate the growth of new cartilage. 
• Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation (OATS): In this procedure, healthy cartilage and bone are removed from a non-weight-bearing area of the knee and transplanted into the damaged area of the knee. 
• Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI): This procedure involves two stages. First, healthy cartilage cells are harvested from the patient and grown in a lab. In the second stage, these cells are implanted into the damaged area of the joint to stimulate new cartilage growth. 
• Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation: This is a procedure in which healthy cartilage and bone from a donor is used to replace damaged cartilage. 

Procedures that replace damaged cartilage with healthy cartilage to repair knee injuries, including Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation (OATS), Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), and Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation, are considered knee cartilage transplants. 

Repairing or replacing damaged knee cartilage can help reduce pain, improve mobility and help you return to a more active lifestyle. 

A partial or total knee replacement may be considered over a cartilage transplant when the cartilage damage is extensive or involves multiple compartments of the knee.

How Successful is Knee Cartilage Replacement?

Knee cartilage replacement success varies depending on factors such as the procedure used, the degree of cartilage damage, and patient characteristics like age and activity level. 

Many patients experience meaningful pain relief, improved function, and other long-term benefits, including a return to their desired activity levels. 

Experiencing Knee Pain and Discomfort? We Offer Comprehensive Solutions at Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic

We know how challenging it can be when knee pain keeps you on the sidelines. If you believe you have a knee cartilage injury, it’s essential to seek treatment promptly to help manage pain and prevent further damage.

Our leading orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh can help you find relief. We’ll explore a range of treatment options with you, and we’ll only recommend surgical intervention if nonsurgical approaches have been ineffective. 

We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment, so we can support you in getting back to a healthy, active lifestyle.