Damaged Cartilage Repair
Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones that connect in major joints. This tissue provides a cushioned lining to prevent wear and damage to the bones from friction and movement. Articular cartilage is tough, but it can be torn from a forceful joint injury, or pieces may break off from repetitive wear and tear. Since cartilage does not easily repair itself, orthopedic treatment is needed to repair cartilage. Our orthopedic surgeons at DOCS Health offer damaged cartilage repair at our state-of-the-art medical facility in Los Angeles.
Most people have some cartilage loss with age, especially on wear-bearing joints. The cartilage can become thinner in the knee and hip joints, causing some stiffness, pain or osteoarthritis. However, it is not just aging that depletes or damages cartilage. Many people in their 20s, 30s and 40s have cartilage damage from sports injuries, accidents and disease. It is important when cartilage is damaged earlier in life to consider repair to reduce the chance of further joint damage and degenerative disease.
Cartilage Transplantation Treatment
One option for damaged cartilage repair is transplantation. Osteochondral autograft transplantation surgery, or OATS, is a proven method of replacing or repairing damaged cartilage with cartilage harvested from another joint in the body. The damaged cartilage lining is removed, and new cartilage is transplanted to repair lesions, tears or damage. This method can be combined with regenerative treatments to help the cartilage heal.
Other types of cartilage repair include drilling, microfracture surgery and abrasion arthroplasty, which can increase blood supply to the bone surface and cartilage to stimulate healing and cartilage or scar tissue growth.
If you have joint pain caused by cartilage damage, contact us at DOCS Health today. Our orthopedic joint specialists utilize the most advanced methods for damaged cartilage repair and joint preservation at our medical center in Los Angeles.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.