- Dwarka, ND and Gurugram , Haryana, India
Dr. Ratnav Ratan is an experienced orthopedic doctor in Gurgaon who will conduct a physical examination of the knee and discuss the symptoms with the patient.
He will check for swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and even issues when moving the knees.
He may suggest an MRI scan along with X-rays to assess the damage in the muscles, tendons, and cartilage. This will help the surgeon decide the future line of treatment.
Early diagnosis plays an important role in identifying the extent of cartilage damage and choosing the right treatment plan for long-term knee function.
There are several surgery options available to repair knee cartilage injuries. However, the orthopedic surgeon will recommend which surgery will prove suitable to resolve the knee cartilage issue.
The cartilage tissue does not contain blood vessels and hence is unable to heal on its own.
Thus, the orthopedic surgeon recommends surgery and makes tiny cuts or abrasion in the bone below the injured cartilage to induce bleeding required to grow new cartilage cells.
Knee cartilage injury is treated through non-surgical as well as surgical treatment.
In the initial stages of knee cartilage treatment, the orthopedic doctor will emphasize the non-surgical approach – R.I.C.E treatment -
R.I.C.E Treatment
The surgery focuses on removing the damaged cartilage as much as possible. The surgeon uses a scraping tool to remove the damaged cartilage and roughen the affected bone’s surface.
The surgeon uses a wire or drill to make tiny holes in the bone. The nearby tissue is affected, which supports the healing response needed for cartilage repair.
The surgeon uses an awl to pierce the bone after clearing the damaged cartilage.
The treating orthopedic surgeon will decide the type of knee cartilage replacement procedure suitable for the patient.
The size of the cartilage area and the patient’s health condition determine the type of cartilage repair surgery.
Surgeons can perform osteochondral autograft transplantation or osteochondral allograft transplantation surgeries, which are done through an arthroscope.
These surgeries involve grafting healthy cartilage either from the patient or from a cadaver and placing it in the area requiring new cartilage. The surgeon may perform a mosaicplasty wherein multiple grafts are involved.
It is a surgery in which the surgeon removes a small piece of healthy cartilage from the knee joint. This piece of cartilage is then cultured for new cell growth.
After a gap of 3 to 5 weeks, the new cartilage cells are implanted into the damaged knee joint.
The second surgery is an open surgery and requires a larger incision. Autologous chondrocyte implantation is recommended in case of repair of relatively large-sized multiple cartilage injuries.
Cartilage cell implantation procedure for knee repair
Chondromalacia patella refers to the wear and tear of the cartilage below the underside of the knee cap. The cartilage located at the underside of the knee cap becomes soft, cracked, and even broken down, and the patient may complain of severe knee pain in the front area of the knee.
It occurs more in women because of the lower leg alignment.
Patients often complain of pain while using stairs, rising from a seated position, and sitting with bent knees for long periods.
Kneecap cartilage damage causing anterior knee pain
The non-surgical approach includes consuming anti-inflammatory medicines and avoiding activities that increase pain and discomfort.
The orthopedic surgeon may advise the patient not to indulge in activities such as using an elliptical trainer, a Stairmaster, or playing volleyball and basketball that cause further strain on the kneecap.
The surgeon may also advise rest if the kneecap is misaligned since early childhood.
Chondroplasty or arthroscopic shaving or knee debridement is the most preferred way to treat this condition.
In this surgery, the surgeon accesses the patella using an arthroscope to shave off the roughness on the underside of the patella and perform a lateral retinacular release.
A lateral retinacular release means the surgeon loosens the extra pressure of the knee cap against the thigh bone and rectifies the kneecap’s alignment.
Patellofemoral replacement is another major surgery recommended in the event of an unsuccessful result of chondroplasty.
Act in time and seek an appointment with Orthopedist Dr. Ratnav Ratan for treatment of knee cartilage injuries and related issues to prevent any further damage to the knees.