Cartilage and osteochondral injuries
Preservation and restoration techniques for focal cartilage defects of the knee, including the patella.
- What it is
- Articular cartilage has a limited capacity for repair. A symptomatic focal lesion, common after trauma or patellar dislocations, causes pain, swelling and locking, and can progress to osteoarthritis if left untreated.
- When it is indicated
- Preservation and restoration techniques are considered for localised, symptomatic lesions, depending on their size, location, the patient's age and the overall condition of the joint. They are usually combined with correcting the cause: instability, malalignment or a meniscal tear.
- How it is performed
- Depending on the case, chondroplasty, microfracture or nanofracture, osteochondral grafts, restoration with minced autologous cartilage (AutoCart) or hyaluronic acid scaffolds are used. Recent osteochondral fragments are fixed when possible. The doctor has published an arthroscope-assisted graft placement technique for greater precision in the patella.
- Recovery
- Partial weight bearing and early controlled motion promote tissue integration. Return to impact activity is gradual and takes several months.
- Procedures the doctor performs
- Chondroplasty and debridement
- Microfracture and nanofracture
- Osteochondral grafts
- Minced autologous cartilage restoration (AutoCart)
- Hyaluronic acid scaffolds and membranes in selected cases
- Fixation of osteochondral fragments
Other procedures
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Meniscal injuries
- Posterior cruciate ligament and multiligament injuries
- Patellar dislocation and instability
- Knee arthroscopy and stiffness
- Corrective osteotomies and joint preservation
- Knee replacement
This content is general information. It does not replace a medical assessment: every case is evaluated in consultation with physical examination and imaging.