Knee Cartilage Defects
Knee cartilage defects refer to injuries or damage to the articular cartilage in the knee joint. The articular cartilage is a smooth, white tissue that covers the ends of bones where they come together to form joints. This cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones and provides a smooth surface that facilitates easy movement of the knee. Damage to the articular cartilage can result in pain, inflammation, and compromised function of the knee joint.
The defects range from damage to a specific area (a focal defect) to wide spread degenerative damage. 5-10% of people aged 40 and older have high grade cartilage defects. Focal cartilage defects can cause considerable pain and disability, impair quality of life, and are associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Cartilage injuries have a limited ability to heal spontaneously and a propensity to worsen over time.
Most articular cartilage defects in the knee are caused by trauma. The trauma may be acute such as a twist, fall, car accident, or sports injury, or repetitive micro traumas. Damage to the cartilage can also accompany damage to another structures in the knee such as ACL tears or meniscus tears. They can also occur in the setting of patellar instability.
- Pain in the knee joint
- Swelling or inflammation
- Reduced range of motion
- Stiffness
- Crepitus or a “crunching” noise when the knee moves
- If a piece of cartilage breaks away and floats in the joint, it can cause locking and pain fully restricted motion
Your Hyper Regen Sports Medicine professional will review your medical history focused on a history of knee trauma. A physical examination will involve an assessment of swelling, range of motion, ligament stability, and performing specific maneuvers to assess cartilage integrity.
An MRI is generally required to accurately assess the location, depth and severity of specific defects. X-rays will be used to rule out arthritis, bony defects and to check bone alignment.
For cartilage defects of the knee, the goal of treatment is relieving pain, increase one’s function and ability to return to sports, as well as, to restore joint congruity in order to delay the onset of early knee osteoarthritis. In such a joint-preserving approach, co-existing diagnoses such as meniscal deficiency, ligamentous instability, or malalignment are often treated at the same time. For example, a symptomatic patient with a deficient medial meniscus and a medial femoral condyle cartilage defect would be managed with a cartilage restoration procedure and medial meniscus transplant.
Schedule a knee consultation
Knee cartilage defects are a significant medical concern that can impair quality of life. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for optimal patient outcomes. Contact HyperRegen Sports Medicine in Toronto, Canada to schedule a consultation.
At a Glance
Dr. Jas Chahal
- Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Women’s College Hospital
- Team Physician Toronto FC and University of Toronto Varsity Blues
- Associate Professor, University of Toronto Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Program
- Has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications
- Learn more
