Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue found throughout the body. It covers joint surfaces, acting as a shock absorber and allowing bones to slide over one another. Damage is relatively common, occurring from sudden injury or through gradual wear and tear. Often it is the knees that are affected. Severe damage will require attention from a trusted San Francisco sports medicine doctor.
Joint pain may continue even when resting and worsen when you put weight on the joint. Swelling may not develop for a few hours or days.
Visit a knee replacement specialist in the Bay Area if:
Severe cartilage damage doesn’t heal on its own, making surgery necessary. It is usually performed under general anesthesia using arthroscopy, where special instruments are inserted into the joint through small incisions.
Some of the main procedures are:
Lavage and Debridement The joint is cleaned out to remove any loose tissue, and the edges of the damaged area are trimmed to make them smooth.
Marrow Stimulation Tiny holes are made in the bone beneath the damaged cartilage, releasing bone marrow into it. Marrow cells then stimulate the production of new cartilage.
Mosaicplasty Small plugs of healthy cartilage from non-weight bearing areas of a joint are removed and used to replace small areas of damaged cartilage.
Osteotomy The alignment of the leg is altered slightly to reduce pressure on the damaged area and improve pain. Then the bone is fixed with a plate until it heals.
Autologous Chondrocyte (MACI Procedure) Cartilage cells are taken from the injured knee and cloned in the laboratory using cell culture techniques. They are then re-implanted back into the joint to regrow cartilage on the damaged surface.
Joint Replacement Replacing the whole joint with an artificial one is occasionally necessary if the damage is extremely severe.
Talk to a cartilage specialist in San Francisco to discuss the need for surgery, what the possible risks are, and how long he expects it will take you to recover. You’ll usually need to take things easy for at least a few weeks after surgery. You may not be able to return to strenuous activities and sports for several months.
Have you experienced a joint injury that you think might have damaged cartilage? Contact us at IASM for a consultation. Visit our patient contact page HERE or call (415) 923-0944. We also offer a convenient Telehealth option to schedule an appointment for your initial consultation in the comfort of your own home.
