The smooth and pain-free movement of our joints heavily relies on cartilage. It covers the ends of our bones within the joints, allowing them to glide seamlessly. Injury, aging, or other conditions can harm this important tissue, causing pain and reduced joint function. Thankfully, there are techniques for repairing articular cartilage, each with its own unique advantages.
Managing Articular Cartilage Injuries
Visualize your child playing in the high school soccer finals. She dashes across the pitch, positions her foot, and performs a swift leftward pivot. Suddenly, she clutches her knee in pain. After the game, her knee swells up and stiffens, and she complains of significant discomfort.
When her symptoms persist beyond a few days, you decide to consult a healthcare professional. After examining your daughter and running tests, the doctor tells you she has injured her joint cartilage. This specialized tissue covers the ends of bones in joints such as the knee and elbow.
Articular cartilage injuries are fairly common, especially among individuals who lead active lifestyles. While these injuries most frequently affect the knee, they can also occur in the hip, elbow, shoulder, and ankle. Cartilage injuries hurt and can affect daily life, but there are treatments to ease pain and fix the damage.
What is articular cartilage?
- Articular cartilage, a smooth white tissue, covers joint ends where bones meet and is crucial for joint function. It’s a type of hyaline cartilage common in the body, with vital roles:
- Provides a frictionless surface for joint movement.
- Acts as a shock absorber, safeguarding bones from force impacts.
- Distributes forces evenly across the joint.
- Nourishes the underlying bone.
Causes of Articular Cartilage Injuries
- Although thin, articular cartilage is robust. Its limited blood supply hampers natural healing. Causes of injury include:
- Trauma (e.g., sports injuries or falls)
- Overuse
- Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis
Cartilage injuries lead to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, impairing mobility. While no cure exists, treatments can alleviate symptoms and enhance joint function:
- Rest
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Injections
- Surgery
If you are concerned about an articular cartilage injury, consult a healthcare provider.
How do articular cartilage injuries occur?
Articular cartilage injuries can arise through various mechanisms, including:
- Trauma: Sudden, forceful impacts on joints, like those from falls or sports injuries, can harm articular cartilage. This often occurs in the knee, ankle, and shoulder.
- Overuse: Repeatedly subjecting a joint to stress over time can also lead to articular cartilage damage. Athletes and individuals with physically demanding jobs, such as construction workers, are susceptible.
- Degenerative Diseases: Conditions like osteoarthritis can contribute to articular cartilage damage. As osteoarthritis advances, the cartilage deteriorates and thins, increasing vulnerability to injury.
Additional risk factors include:
- Age: Articular cartilage becomes thinner and less elastic with age, making it more prone to injury.
- Obesity: Excess weight places extra strain on joints, elevating the risk of articular cartilage injury.
- Joint Alignment Issues: Conditions like bowlegs or knock-knees can also raise the likelihood of articular cartilage injury.
Symptoms of articular cartilage injuries
- Discomfort and inflammation in the joint
- A sensation of “snagging” when flexing or maneuvering the joint
- A crunching, grinding, or snapping noise and feeling when flexing or manoeuvring the joint
- Joint locking
- Sensation of joint instability or potential collapse
- Rigidity
- Limited movement scope
Diagnosis of articular cartilage injuries
To diagnose a cartilage injury, a doctor will examine the affected area and use X-rays or MRI scans. In some cases, a procedure called arthroscopy may be performed to get a better view of the joint.
Treating articular cartilage injuries
Despite the complexity of these injuries, several effective treatments are accessible. The most suitable treatment approach depends on the injury’s severity, the patient’s activity level, and their overall health.
There are both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for articular cartilage injuries. The best treatment option for you will depend on the severity of your injury, your activity level, and your overall health.
Nonsurgical treatments include:
- Rest
- Ice
- Elevation
- Pain relievers
- Physical therapy
- Corticosteroid injections
- Viscosupplementation
Surgical treatments include:
- Microfracture
- Osteochondral autograft/mosaicplasty
- Osteochondral allograft
- Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)
- Matrix autologous cartilage implantation (MACI)
If you have an articular cartilage injury, it is important to see a doctor to discuss your treatment options.
What is the damage to the articular cartilage?
To understand cartilage restoration methods, it’s important to know why this tissue is important and how it can get damaged. Articular cartilage is a type of tissue that serves as a cushion between bones in our joints. It reduces friction. Absorbs shocks during movements. Unlike tissues in our body, articular cartilage has limited self-repair capabilities. When it gets damaged, it can lead to pain, stiffness, and a decrease in functionality.
Arthroscopy: A Less Invasive Approach
Arthroscopy is a technique that minimizes invasiveness while diagnosing and treating joint conditions, like articular cartilage damage. During a procedure, the surgeon inserts a small camera, known as an arthroscope, into the joint through an incision. This enables the surgeon to visualize the damaged cartilage and carry out repairs.
Benefits of Arthroscopy:
- Arthroscopy causes less harm to tissues and allows for faster recovery because of smaller incisions compared to open surgery.
- Accurate Diagnosis: It provides a view of the joint enabling diagnosis and targeted treatment.
- Quicker Recovery: Patients often experience hospital stays and a faster return to their activities.
Microfracture Surgery: Inducing Natural Healing
Microfracture surgery is a technique aimed at stimulating the body’s natural healing processes for repairing damaged cartilage. Small holes are made in the bone under the damaged cartilage. This lets stem cells from the bone marrow move and create tissue that looks like cartilage.
Benefits of Microfracture Surgery:
- Invasive: It is an intrusive alternative compared to some other surgical techniques.
- Encourages Natural Healing: By utilizing the body’s healing capabilities it can lead to the formation of tissue that imitates the cartilage.
- Suitable for Small Lesions: It is effective in treating cartilage lesions.
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI): Tailored Cartilage Repair
ACI is a technique involving the transplantation of a patient’s cultured cartilage cells, for repairing damaged areas. This approach is especially well suited for defects, in cartilage.
Advantages of Articular Cartilage (ACI):
- Tailored Repair: The cells used for transplantation come from the patient’s body, ensuring a personalized repair.
- Effective for Damage: ACI is particularly effective in treating extensive and intricate defects in cartilage.
- Lasting Effects: It can provide enduring relief, especially when other treatments may not be as effective.
Emerging Technologies: 3D Printing and Tissue Engineering
In recent years, advancements in 3D printing and tissue engineering have opened possibilities for restoring articular cartilage. Researchers are exploring the development of cartilage. Bioprinting techniques to create replacement tissue.
Benefits of Emerging Technologies:
- Precision and Customization: 3D printing allows customization of cartilage implants.
- Reduced Reliance on Donors: These techniques decrease the dependence on donor tissue, addressing limitations in supply.
- Potential for Availability: If perfected, these technologies could make cartilage restoration widely accessible.
Conclusion
The restoration of cartilage is essential for maintaining health and functionality. Different methods, like arthroscopy and ACI, as well as new technologies like 3D printing, have benefits for people with damaged cartilage. The technique chosen relies on factors, including the severity of the damage and the specific requirements of the patient. Science advancements offer hope for people seeking cartilage restoration, improving movement and quality of life.
Call Us Now to Schedule an Appointment! 
