Cartilage Defect

Cartilages are whitish coverings of joints which give friction free, smooth, firm but not a hard surface movement. This is a firm layer with limited capacity to heal unlike bones, muscles and skin. Damage to cartilage over time leads to wear and tear and development of arthritis.

With advancement in joint preservation science, including biotechnology the therapeutic scope of cartilage healing has improved over recent years.

Cartilage injury can be just the softening of cartilage, superficial scuffing, cracks, blebs, fibrillation, full thickness defects, osteochondral defects.

Cartilage repair options are as follows:

• Patient Specific Rehabilitation Protocol
• Arthroscopic Fixation
• Open Fixation
• Retro-articular Drilling
• Arthroscopic Radiofrequency Co-ablation
• Arthroscopic Microdrilling
• Arthroscopic/Open Osteochondral Transfer
• Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
• Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
• Autologous Particulates Cartilage Implantation

Whichever method of the above treatment is required for an individual depends on multiple factors which would be evaluated by the Cartilage Specialist at Ortho One.

Regrow Cartilage Cell Therapy for Cartilage Damage & Knee Pain

What is Cartilage?

Cartilage is smooth but tough flexible connective tissue that helps bone to glide easily for movement. It is a rubber like padding that protects the end of bones that make joints & act as a shock absorber between these joints.

What is Articular Cartilage Damage?

Cartilage has a poor blood supply unlike other tissues suck as skin. Any injury to cartilage causes the underlying bones to rub against one another leading to sever pain & immobility of the joint.

Cartilage Damage generally occurs at the Knee Joint, although the shoulder, ankle and other joints can also be affected from Cartilage Damage.

Symptoms of Cartilage Damage

• Joint Pain – at rest and when putting weight on the affected joint
• Swelling around the affected joint
• Restricted Joint Movement & Stiffness
• Clicking or grinding sensation
• Difficulty in Climbing Stairs.

Stages of Cartilage Damage

Stage I

Stage II

Stage III

Stage IV

• Stages I and II of cartilage damage are early stages. Once cartilage gets damaged, in its place fibrous cartilage (a very poor form of the actual cartilage – hyaline cartilage) is formed which has very poor mechanical strength.
• Presence of fibrous cartilage makes the joint susceptible to further injuries and it becomes very difficult to carry out normal activities like walking, running, yoga and sports. Reduced physical activity will lead to diseases associated with sedentary lifestyle such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders.
• A stage IV arthritic joint needs to be replaced by Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

Treatment of Cartilage Damage

• Cartilage does not have blood supply and will not heal on its own like a skin injury. Hence, cartilage damage needs to be treated by external intervention.
• Regrow Cartilage Cell therapy consists of using the patients’ own cells (autologous) as a therapeutic tool to cure cartilage damage and osteochondral defects.
• Bone Cartilage Cell Therapy is a Permanent Treatment of Cartilage Damage and Knee Pain that regenerate the original cartilage & restores the mobility.
• Regrow Cartilage Cell Therapy Treatment Procedure
• Cartilage Cell Therapy consists of 3 steps i.e. Extraction of Healthy Cartilage Tissue, Tissue Culture (Expansion) and then finally the implantation of the cultured tissues.

Benefits of Regrow Cartilage Cell Therapy for Cartilage Damage & Knee Pain

• Natural treatment - uses patients' own cells
• Patient resumes to active, pain-free & normal life.
• Eliminates need for highly invasive Total Knee Replacement Surgery
• Highly effective & successful treatment of Cartilage Injury with a long-term follow-up of 10 years.
• More than 600 patients have been successfully treated with CARTIGROW® cartilage cell therapy.
• For more details about Regrow Cartilage Cell Therapy

3D procedure video

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Authored By : DR. DAVID V RAJAN