Cartilage injuries

Cartilage injuries of the knee are distinct from osteoarthritis and can occur in a variety of conditions.

One common cause is osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a condition where a fragment of cartilage and underlying bone separates from the femur or patella. This is often related to abnormal joint loading or knee malalignment. Mild cases may be managed without surgery through activity modification and offloading, while more severe lesions may require cartilage reconstruction surgery.

Cartilage damage can also occur following patellar dislocation or in association with injuries such as ACL rupture. Small cartilage defects may be monitored, while larger or symptomatic lesions can be treated surgically using a range of techniques tailored to the size of the defect, patient age, and activity level.

Cartilage injuries remain challenging to treat and are an area of ongoing research due to the critical role cartilage plays in long term knee function.