Cartilage Transplant

What is a cartilage transplant?

Cartilage transplant is a surgical procedure to remove damaged cartilage from the knee joint and replace it with healthy cartilage tissue. This type of surgery is beneficial for adults with chronic joint pain or instability due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a traumatic joint injury.

Several types of cartilage transplants are available at Restoration Orthopedics, including:

Autograft

An autograft transplant uses healthy cartilage tissue that Dr. Regala harvests from another area of your body.

Allograft

An allograft transplant uses replacement cartilage from a deceased donor.

Chondrocyte implantation

Chondrocyte implantation is a process of growing new cartilage tissue in a lab using a person’s own cells. Dr. Regala later implants the new cartilage into the damaged joint.

The board-certified orthopedic surgeons employ minimally invasive, arthroscopic techniques to remove damaged cartilage through very small incisions. This technique supports faster recovery times and less pain and bleeding than traditional surgery methods.

Why would I need a cartilage transplant?

Cartilage damage often stems from osteoarthritis, a wear-and-tear disease that causes the breakdown of the protective cartilage that lines the joint bones. Over time, the loss of cartilage allows the bones to rub together, which creates friction, inflammation, and pain.

Nonsurgical therapies can effectively manage osteoarthritis symptoms but may eventually stop working. Cartilage transplant surgery may be necessary if you have severe symptoms or loss of function in the joint due to significant cartilage damage.

Dr. Regala may order bloodwork or imaging tests to determine if you’re a candidate for a cartilage transplant.

What happens during a cartilage transplant procedure?

If you’re a candidate for an allograft or chondrocyte implantation, Dr. Regala performs a minimally invasive procedure to harvest cells or healthy cartilage from another area of your body.

During cartilage transplant surgery, Dr. Regala creates small incisions over the knee joint and inserts an arthroscope, a slender scope with an attached camera. The camera sends real-time images of the inner joint structures to an external monitor, giving Dr. Regala a close-up view of the surgical site.

He passes specialized tools through the scope to remove damaged cartilage before implanting the healthy, new tissue.

Recovery from a cartilage transplant can take 6-8 weeks or longer. Dr. Regala provides a comprehensive after-care plan to support your recovery. 

Call Restoration Orthopedics to schedule a cartilage transplant consultation or book an appointment online today.