Knee articular cartilage is a tough elastic material that covers the ends of bones in a mobile joint. Joint cartilage allows the ends of the bones to effortlessly glide over one another, and to provide shock absorption. Wear of the articular cartilage is known as arthritis.

Dr Arora performs knee cartilage regeneration procedures for isolated areas of articular cartilage wear. The procedure helps to preserve the knee in the hope of avoiding early joint replacement.

Symptoms

Cartilage wear in the knee may present as pain in the knee while bearing weight, with or without symptoms of catching, clicking or locking.

Investigations

Plain x-rays are essential to assess the presence of any bone injury, and to assess the alignment of the lower limbs. MRI is always helpful to help assess the size and grade of the cartilage lesion, and to identify any other injury.

Surgery

After non-surgical treatments are exhausted, the options to proceed with knee cartilage regeneration procedures will be discussed with Dr Arora. When your knee pain is such that it is interfering with your enjoyment of life, it may be time to consider a procedure that would be tailored to you.

The surgical options available for cartilage regeneration include:

  • Microfracture:

    small holes are punched through the surface of the bone to encourage stem cells with blood clot to form in the cartilage defect of your knee, and encourage new fibrocartilage formation.

  • Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI):

    A biopsy is taken of your own cartilage and multiplied in a lab. The lab returns these cells in the form of an impregnated mesh, or in a solution, and this is transplanted to your knee cartilage defect

  • Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation (OATs):

    Core’s of your own joint cartilage and bone is taken from a part of your knee that does not articulate with another bone, and is transplanted in to the weight bearing cartilage defect.

  • Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation:

    Core’s of donated cadaver joint cartilage and bone is harvested and transplanted to the weight bearing cartilage defect

  • There are new synthetic transplantation options that are showing some promise in clinical trials

The most appropriate procedure for you will be discussed at your appointment with Dr Arora.

Procedure details

The specific type of procedures required during your knee cartilage regeneration procedure will be discussed with you prior to the procedure. In general for most patients:

  • Your anaesthetist will perform general anaesthetic
  • 2 small keyhole incisions are made over your knee
  • The knee joint is examined and the specific procedures required are undertaken
  • The knee is irrigated and local anaesthetic is infiltrated around the knee
  • The surgical site is thoroughly cleaned and closed

The post-operative recovery consists of:

  • The majority of patients that have an arthroscopy and cartilage regeneration are discharged on the same operative day
  • Most patients are able to mobilise with crutches but not permitted to take any weight on the operated knee for 6-8 weeks. This gives the cartilage time to regenerate and any graft time to heal and incorporate in to your own bone.
  • Return to sedentary work 2-4 weeks
  • Return to heavy labour 3 months
  • Return to sport 4-6 months