Cartilage Repair Procedures

Cartilage repair procedures aim to restore damaged cartilage in joints, especially the knee, to reduce pain and improve function. Depending on the injury, techniques include microfracture surgery (creating small holes to stimulate healing), osteochondral autograft or allograft transplants (moving healthy cartilage from another area or donor tissue), and autologous chondrocyte implantation (growing new cartilage cells in a lab before transplant). These procedures help rebuild or replace damaged cartilage, promoting smoother joint movement and reducing discomfort. The best approach varies based on the injury’s size, location, and patient health.