Different Types of Osteoarthritis Surgery

Table of Contents

What is Cartilage?

Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue found on the end of bones.

What is Chondral defect (cartilage injury)?

A chondral defect refers to an area of damaged cartilage in the knee joint. The damage can be a result of sudden injury such as sports injury or gradual wear and tear.

Cartilage therapeutics encompasses a range of advanced medical treatments designed to address damage to the cartilage, the smooth tissue covering the ends of bones in joints. Cartilage plays a vital role in enabling pain-free movement by cushioning joints and preventing bone-on-bone friction. However, because cartilage lacks a direct blood supply, its ability to repair itself when damaged is extremely limited. As a result, untreated cartilage injuries can lead to chronic pain, swelling, reduced mobility, and eventually conditions like osteoarthritis, significantly affecting a person’s quality of life.

Cartilage damage can result from trauma, repetitive stress, age-related degeneration, or medical conditions. Modern advancements in cartilage therapeutics offer hope for restoring joint function and relieving symptoms through innovative solutions. These treatments aim not only to alleviate pain but also to repair or replace the damaged cartilage to delay or prevent the progression of joint disease. Depending on the severity and nature of the damage, as well as patient-specific factors, different therapeutic approaches are used. These approaches are broadly categorised into palliative, reparative, regenerative, and replacement methods.

OUTCOME

Cartilage therapeutics represents a field of continuous innovation, providing tailored solutions to improve outcomes and restore patients’ ability to move freely and live without joint pain. Each approach has its role depending on the patient’s condition and therapeutic goals, offering a pathway to recovery and better joint health.