Articular cartilage can be damaged by an injury or it can also have a normal wear and tear. Cartilage injuries are often the result of sports that result in the crushing or detachment of a part of the articular cartilage. Most often the knee joint is injured but it can affect any joint such as the ankle (ankle), hip, shoulder, elbow and other joints. When the cartilage has been damaged then there is no smooth functioning of the joint which can be painful, present with hydroarthrosis (increased reactive fluid), have mechanical problems such as joint involvement or cramping as a result of some free body but also lead to early arthritis, i.e. in complete destruction of the joint.

Articular cartilage lacks blood supply and therefore the body cannot heal an injury with normal hyaline cartilage. For this reason, science has developed various techniques in order to help restore the cartilage more fully and delay the progression of a possible arthritis.

 

What are the symptoms of cartilage damage?

Symptoms of a cartilage injury involving the cartilage and underlying bone include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Instability of the knee joint
• Reduced range of motion
• Tenderness, often felt in the center of the knee
• Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint

 

How is cartilage damage diagnosed?

It is not unusual for a cartilage lesion to go undiagnosed for years. Some damage occurs as part of the aging process, is progressive and gets worse over time. Other such injuries occur with a traumatic event such as an accident or a fall. Dr. Konstantinos A. Fragkopoulos will use MRI to diagnose an osteochondral lesion. The MRI will show him the surfaces of the articular cartilage. The MRI will allow him to determine the size, shape and progression of the injury. If the bone is affected, he will be able to determine the extent of the bone damage and can formulate a plan to treat and repair the damage.

 

What is the treatment of cartilage lesions?

Treatment for this type of knee injury will vary, depending on the patient’s activity level, the location, and the amount of damage caused by the defect.

 

Non-surgical treatment:

The goal of conservative treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation in the joint. This can often be done by using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Rest and activity modification are recommended. A physical therapy program that includes strengthening the muscles around the knee joint and lower extremity will help relieve pain and can help patients maintain flexibility and range of motion.

 

Surgical treatment:

The doctor has extensive experience and success in the treatment of osteochondral lesions. He offers proven, modern treatments for his patients.

The New Biological techniques such as infusions:

• Stem Cells or Autologous Chondrocytes
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

And arthroscopic techniques such as:

• microfractures,
• Autologous chondrocyte transplantation
• Transplantation of autologous osteochondral cylinders from other non-loading sites