
What is an Articular Cartilage Defect?
The articular or hyaline cartilage is the tissue lining the surface of the two bones in the knee joint. Cartilage helps the bones move smoothly against each other and can withstand the weight of your body during activities such as running and jumping. Articular cartilage does not have a direct blood supply to it, so has less capacity to repair itself. Once the cartilage is torn it will not heal easily and can lead to degeneration of the articular surface, leading to the development of osteoarthritis.
Causes of Articular Cartilage Defects
The damage of the articular cartilage can affect you regardless of your age. It can be damaged by trauma such as accidents, mechanical injury such as a fall or from degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) occurring in older people.
Symptoms of Articular Cartilage Defects
The symptoms of articular cartilage damage include joint pain, swelling, stiffness and a decrease in the range of motion of the knee.
Treatment of Articular Cartilage Defects
The damaged cartilage needs to be replaced with healthy cartilage. The procedure is known as cartilage replacement. It is a surgical procedure performed to replace the worn-out cartilage and is usually performed to treat small areas of cartilage damage usually caused by sports or traumatic injuries. It is not indicated for advanced arthritis of the knee.
Cartilage replacement helps relieve pain, restore normal function, and can delay or prevent the onset of arthritis. The goal of cartilage replacement procedures is to stimulate the growth of new hyaline cartilage. Various arthroscopic procedures involved in cartilage replacement include:
- Microfracture
- Drilling
- Abrasion arthroplasty
- Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)
- Osteochondral autograft transplantation
Related Topics
- Knee Arthritis
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Knee Pain
- Anterior Knee Pain
- ACL Tears
- Meniscal Injuries
- Meniscal Tears
- Patellar Dislocation/Patellofemoral Dislocation
- Patellar Instability
- Patellofemoral Instability
- Patellar Tendon Rupture
- Posterolateral Instability
- Osteonecrosis of the Knee
- Knee Dislocation
- Chondromalacia Patella
- Jumper's Knee
- Kneecap Bursitis
- Baker's Cyst
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Knee Injury
- Knee Sprain
- MCL Sprains
- Knee Ligament Injuries
- Multiligament Instability
- PCL Injuries
- Chondral or Articular Cartilage Defects
- Quadriceps Tendon Rupture
- Lateral Meniscus Syndrome
- Tibial Eminence Spine Avulsion Fracture
- Osteochondral Defect of the Knee
- Lateral Patellar Instability
- Medial Patellar Instability
- Articular Cartilage Injury
- Loose Bodies in the Knee
- Knee Sports Injuries
- Patellar Tendinitis
- Meniscus Root Tear
- Medial Meniscus Syndrome
- Knee Stress Fractures
- Multiligament Knee Injuries
- Quadriceps Tendon Rupture and Repair
- Patellofemoral Arthritis
- Stress Fracture of the Tibia
- Runner's Knee
- Hoffa's Fat Pad Syndrome
- Posterolateral Corner Injuries
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
- Medial Gastrocnemius Strain
- Chronic Hamstring Tendinopathy
- Patellar Tracking Disorder/Patellar Maltracking
- Pes Anserine Bursitis
- Knee Joint Bursa Infection