Surgery — patients who do not respond to conservative treatment will need surgery. There are several surgical options, depending on a number of factors, which include the age and activity level of the patient, how big the lesion is, and how long ago the injury happened.
If left untreated, the joint, especially if it is a weight-bearing one, such as the knee, can eventually become so damaged that the person cannot walk. Apart from immobility, the pain may slowly get worse. All small articular cartilage defects can eventually progress to osteoarthritis if given enough time. A physical therapist can suggest exercises that are suitable for an individual to strengthen the muscles around the joint.
This will reduce pressure on the area with the damaged cartilage. The Arthritis Foundation recommends :. As one review concludes :. Knee replacement surgery repairs a damaged or worn out knee joint that is damaged or worn out, to relieve pain and movement disability. Find out more. Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue found throughout the body.
It covers the surface of joints, acting as a shock absorber and allowing bones to slide over one another. It can become damaged as a result of a sudden injury, such as a sports injury , or gradual wear and tear osteoarthritis. Minor cartilage injuries may get better on their own within a few weeks, but more severe cartilage damage may eventually require surgery. It can sometimes be difficult to tell a cartilage injury apart from other common joint injuries, such as sprains , as the symptoms are similar.
If you've injured your joint, it's a good idea to try self care measures first. Cartilage damage is repaired using arthroscopic or keyhole surgery, which means minimal impact on healthy parts of your knee, less scarring and quicker recovery times. The cartilage may be removed, trimmed or smoothed down using special tools. In some cases, the injured area of cartilage can be replaced with a small piece of healthy cartilage and bone from another part of your knee joint. If the bone surfaces have degenerated badly due to arthritis, your surgeon can replace the damaged bone with prosthetic parts.
Many orthopaedic surgeons, including the team at Capital Orthopaedics, also offer cartilage regeneration treatment. As an orthopaedic surgeon with decades of experience, I can only emphasise that you get any knee pain checked out by a medical specialist.
You may be lucky — your condition could be managed with a few weeks of rest and some targeted physical therapy. But where your knees are concerned, you have to remember how much force you are putting through them just going down the stairs or taking the dog for a walk.
Any damage to your cartilage or any other part of your knee takes a battering every day. Luckily, cartilage damage and arthritis can usually be treated very effectively with arthroscopic surgery. For more information about your knee pain or to book an appointment at one of our central London locations, contact Capital Orthopaedics here. Tags: cartilage damage , consultant orthopaedic surgeon , Featured , Knee Conditions , knee injury , orthopaedic surgeon , orthopaedic surgeon in london , orthopaedic surgery , treatment for knee injury.
You have been added to our mailing list and will now be first to hear about our latest news and special offers. Please fill in this form to discuss your query. Either Christine or Margaret will get back back to you as oon as possible. We recommend leaving your telephone number. If you go through long periods of inactivity, you increase the risk of damage to the cartilage. Long periods of stress on your joints can also result in cartilage damage.
This is especially so in the knee joints if you are overweight for many years. This wear can eventually lead to loss of cartilage in the joints, known as osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of a sprain, ligament damage and cartilage damage can often be similar, making it difficult to diagnose. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI — A magnetic field and radio waves create detailed images of the body, but this procedure may not always detect cartilage damage.
Arthroscopy — A tube-like instrument called an arthroscope is inserted into your joint to examine it. This procedure can help determine the extent of your cartilage damage. Many patients ask for the magic bullet or miracle injection therapy. However, this is akin to putting a band aid on the problem as it does not treat the root cause. It does little to help cartilage defects or injuries, but it does provide temporary relief.
Surgery is usually only offered for severe disease that has not responded to conservative treatments. There are several surgical options available depending on your age, activity level, extent of cartilage damage and how long ago the injury happened.
Have a careful discussion with your doctor before the decision for both the type of surgery, and the decision for surgery are made. Surgical options include:. What you need to know about cartilage damage. Viscosupplementation for Knee Osteoarthritis. What you need to know about PRP. Knee Arthroscopy. Stem cell procedures vs. Stem cells conduct cartilage regeneration but are not directly involved. Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee, 2nd edition.
He specialises in hip and knee surgery, which ranges from joint preservation to major reconstruction. COVID comes with a silver lining — many of us are getting back in touch with nature and leading healthier lifestyles through exercise. But this also increases the likelihood of injuries. We delve deeper into how and why joint replacement surgery is an effective solution for severe joint pain.
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