ARTICULAR CARTILAGE RESTORATION
OVERVIEW
You likely know the critical role physical features like muscles and bones play in helping you stand, walk, and carry out almost every other vital function.
You might not know that other internal components, including soft tissues, carry out a crucial part in ensuring your muscles and bones remain strong and healthy. One such component is known as articular cartilage.
When this material becomes damaged, you can experience many uncomfortable and possibly debilitating symptoms. They can be eased through procedures called articular cartilage restoration.
ANATOMY
Articular cartilage is a relatively soft material cushioning bones where they contact the joints holding them together. When cartilage is healthy and abundant, your bones can move with greater ease and encounter less friction.

DESCRIPTION
Cartilage damage often results from some type of acute, traumatic injury that impacts bones and joints. Natural deterioration can also take place over time.
CAUSES
Cartilage damage usually results from one of three common causes: a major injury, gradual wear and tear, and a lack of movement.
MAJOR INJURY
A significant percentage of cartilage damage results from some type of dramatic and direct injury. This frequently occurs in sporting events involving physical contact between competitors, including:
- Rugby.
- Football.
- Wrestling.
- Basketball.
Injuries can also happen following traumatic occurrences like severe falls and auto accidents.
AGE
As you age, cartilage gradually breaks down. Your bones are used every day executing typical, routine movements. Decades of walking, climbing stairs, bending, and lifting forces force your knees and ankles to exert effort. This can weaken cartilage over time.
INACTIVITY
Remaining inactive does not benefit your joints. Prolonged periods of inactivity can result in cartilage damage or speed up its deterioration.

SYMPTOMS
Damaged articular cartilage often produces a noticeable amount of pain. Such discomfort can worsen when you engage in certain activities.
Besides pain in the affected joint, you might also encounter inflammation. Inflamed or irritated joints might have redness and swelling. Surrounding tissues might also feel warm and tender to the touch.
You may experience significant stiffness. This can cause your knees, shoulders, wrists, ankles, and elbows to grow increasingly difficult to move.
COMPLICATIONS
Cartilage damage is a progressive issue and only worsens with time. Failing to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment can lead to more serious concerns like life-limiting pain and even permanent joint damage.
ARTICULAR CARTILAGE RESTORATION
Once cartilage is damaged, it is slow to heal. Physicians have created many methods to help cartilage regenerate. These processes are known as articular cartilage restoration.
OVERVIEW
Articular cartilage restoration is a broad term used to describe any number of surgical procedures. Some undertakings are more invasive than others. Your doctor will determine which one most suits your needs after considering several issues, such as your age, weight, level of physical activity, overall health, the region where the cartilage damage is located, and the severity of the problem.
Specific operations include:
- Drilling: Surgeons drill holes into the bones beneath the affected cartilage – the subchondral region. This opening of the bone, which is typically performed using a minimally invasive surgical tool called an arthroscope, stimulates the healing process by creating a new and increased blood supply to the damaged area.
- Microfracture: Similar to drilling, surgeons create holes in the joint in the subchondral area. This process is done using an instrument called an awl. These openings form a pathway for fresh blood supplies to reach damaged tissue and start healing.
- Abrasion Arthroplasty: During this procedure, surgeons use tools (burrs) to extract injured cartilage and create openings in subchondral bones.
- Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation: Surgeons remove cartilage from a healthy joint and transplant it into the damaged joint. This procedure is scientifically referred to as grafting.
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: Often abbreviated as ACI, cells are formed to create new cartilage and then placed into the damaged joints. This procedure is a multi-step process.
- The first phase involves the removal of a small amount of healthy cartilage. Cartilage cells (chondrocytes) are then extracted and multiplied inside a laboratory setting for several weeks.
- Once enough chondrocytes are created, they are placed into the receiving joint in an open surgical procedure.
- Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation: This procedure is similar to autograft transplantation. It uses cartilage samples taken from cadavers instead of from your own body.

PROGNOSIS
Regardless of the restoration procedure performed, there will be a recovery period. Movement-constructing devices will cover the joint and surrounding tissues in question while the healing process progresses. If performed on your knee or ankle, you might additionally need crutches or walking boots for several weeks.
Your doctor will likely prescribe physical therapy. These are specially designed exercises geared towards helping the healing joint recapture lost motion and regain its strength.
Specific recovery times are difficult to determine. Healing often occurs faster following arthroscopic-based procedures. Everyone heals at their own pace. Underlying issues like age, physical condition, and general health will likely factor into specific time frames.
NEXT STEPS
Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to learn more about articular cartilage restoration.
Areas of Focus
- Knee & Leg
- ACL Injuries
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- MACI
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Muscle Spasms
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Runner's Knee
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Articular Cartilage Restoration:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
Services
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