Cartilage Repair

Preserving and Restoring the Joint Surface

Articular cartilage is the smooth, low friction, shock-absorbing surface that lines the ends of the bones within the knee joint. Unlike other tissues, cartilage has a very limited capacity to heal itself, so damage - whether from a sporting injury or gradual wear - can lead to persistent pain, swelling and mechanical symptoms if left untreated.

Dr Adam Farrier is a consultant knee surgeon offering cartilage repair surgery for patients in Carlisle and across Cumbria, including West Cumberland (Whitehaven), and in Newcastle upon Tyne and the North East.

Is Cartilage Repair Right for You?

Cartilage repair techniques are generally best suited to younger, more active patients with a focal (localised) area of cartilage damage, rather than widespread wear affecting the whole joint. The size, depth and location of the defect, along with your age and activity goals, all guide which technique - if any - is likely to give the best result.

The Procedure

A range of techniques can be used depending on the size and nature of the defect, from microfracture (stimulating the bone marrow to produce repair tissue) to cartilage cell transplantation or osteochondral grafting, where healthy cartilage and bone are transferred to fill the defect. Many of these procedures can be performed arthroscopically, though some larger defects require a more open approach.

The Benefits of Cartilage Repair

• Reducing Pain and Swelling: Successfully treating a cartilage defect can significantly reduce the pain and recurrent swelling associated with an exposed area of bone.

• Improving Joint Mechanics: Restoring a smooth joint surface reduces the catching, locking or grinding sensations that damaged cartilage can cause.

• Protecting the Joint Long-Term: Addressing focal cartilage damage early may help slow the progression toward more widespread joint wear.

• Preserving the Native Joint: For younger patients in particular, cartilage repair aims to preserve the patient's own joint and delay the potential need for future joint replacement.

Important Considerations & Risks

• Variable Healing Response: Repair tissue does not always replicate the exact properties of normal cartilage, and outcomes can vary between patients.

• Extended Rehabilitation: Recovery often involves a prolonged period of protected weight-bearing to allow the repair tissue to mature, which requires patience and commitment.

• Not Suitable for All Patients: Widespread cartilage wear or significant joint malalignment may need to be addressed, or may make cartilage repair less likely to succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is cartilage damage diagnosed?

Cartilage damage is usually identified on MRI, though the full extent is sometimes only clear at the time of arthroscopic surgery.

Will I need a brace or crutches afterward?

Many cartilage repair procedures require a period of limited weight-bearing on crutches, sometimes with a brace, to protect the healing surface - the specifics depend on which technique is used and where the defect is located.

Is cartilage repair the same as a joint replacement?

No. Cartilage repair aims to preserve and restore your own joint surface in a focal area of damage, which is a different goal and a different procedure to a joint replacement.

Dr Farrier's Note

"Cartilage has very little capacity to heal on its own, which is why getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan early matters. My aim with cartilage repair is always to preserve your own joint for as long as possible."