Articular Cartilage Defect
Normal knee function requires a smooth gliding articular cartilage surface on the ends of the bones. The cartilage acts to distribute force during repetitive high impact movements, such as jumping or running on hard surfaces. Despite its strength, articular cartilage is vulnerable to damage that can cause chronic knee pain. Injuries take the form of lesions, holes, or divots in the surface of the cartilage.
Knee Cartilage Injury Symptoms
A severe knee cartilage injury can radically change an active adult’s lifestyle. Symptoms of an injury can include locking or catching of the knee as well as localized pain and swelling. This often affects an individual’s ability to work, play, and perform everyday activities. If left untreated, it can hinder your ability to move free from pain, and cause deterioration to the joint surface.
Microfracture with BioCartilage
Treatment of articular cartilage injuries is determined by the size, depth, and location of the defect. Small lesions (< 1-1.5cm) may be treated with a Microfracture procedure. Microfracture involves creating small holes or channels within the defect to allow for stem cells from the bone marrow to coat the lesion and assist in growing new cartilage.
Arthrex Biocartilage® is an extracellular matrix which can be used in conjunction with a Microfracture procedure to provide a scaffold or framework in which the bone marrow stem cells can regenerate new cartilage tissue.
Osteochondral Transplantation
There are a wide variety of cartilage transfer procedure options. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ackerman to determine which treatment is best for you.
Larger cartilage defects are often treated by filling the lesion with a block of cartilage and bone. The block of cartilage and bone or graft can be harvested from the patient (autograft) or obtained from a donor (allograft) depending on the side, shape, and location. The graft is then shaped to fit the exact contour of the defect and then fit into place.