Knee cartilage replacement therapy

Knee Cartilage Replacement Therapy is a medical procedure that involves the replacement of damaged cartilage in the knee joint with healthy cartilage. This therapy is often used to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause the cartilage in the knee to wear away over time.

Overview

Knee cartilage replacement therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that aims to restore the function of the knee joint by replacing damaged cartilage. The procedure can be performed using various techniques, including autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT), and meniscus transplantation.

Procedure

The procedure for knee cartilage replacement therapy typically involves the following steps:

1. Diagnostic imaging: This is used to assess the extent of the cartilage damage and to plan the procedure.
2. Cartilage harvesting: In procedures such as ACI, cartilage cells are harvested from a non-weight bearing area of the knee.
3. Cell culture: The harvested cells are cultured in a laboratory to increase their number.
4. Implantation: The cultured cells are then implanted into the damaged area of the knee.

Benefits and Risks

The main benefit of knee cartilage replacement therapy is that it can significantly improve knee function and reduce pain in patients with cartilage damage. However, like all surgical procedures, it also carries risks, including infection, blood clots, and complications related to anesthesia.

See Also

• Knee replacement
• Cartilage
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis