✦ Cartilage Restoration

Knee Cartilage Repair & Regeneration

Q: Can knee cartilage regenerate naturally?

Articular cartilage has very limited natural healing ability due to its avascular nature. Procedures like microfracture, OATS, and ACI are required to stimulate or transplant cartilage repair tissue into significant defects.

Q: What is the best supplement for knee cartilage?

Glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin, collagen peptides, and omega-3 fatty acids have supporting evidence for slowing cartilage breakdown and reducing symptoms. They work best alongside weight management and physiotherapy.

Q: What is the difference between microfracture and OATS?

Microfracture stimulates the body to form fibrocartilage (a softer repair tissue) and is best for smaller defects. OATS transplants genuine osteochondral tissue and is preferred for larger or higher-demand defects.

A range of surgical procedures to restore focal cartilage damage in the knee — from microfracture and OATS to advanced ACI techniques — preserving the joint and delaying or preventing the need for replacement.

45–120 min PROCEDURE

Day-care/1 Day HOSPITAL STAY

70–90% SUCCESS RATE

6–12 Months FULL RECOVERY

What is Knee Cartilage Repair & Regeneration?

Articular cartilage covers the bone surfaces within the knee and enables smooth, pain-free movement. Unlike most tissues, it has virtually no capacity for self-repair once damaged, because it lacks a blood supply. Focal cartilage defects — whether from sports injury, osteochondral lesion, or early localised arthritis — cause pain, swelling, and eventually accelerate joint degeneration. A range of procedures exists to restore cartilage — from microfracture (stimulating fibrocartilage) to OATS (transplanting healthy cartilage plugs) and Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), which grows the patient's own cartilage cells in a lab before reimplantation.

Suitable for younger, active patients with focal, full-thickness cartilage defects (typically < 4 cm²) on a single weight-bearing surface, without widespread osteoarthritis. Not suitable for multi-compartment or diffuse cartilage loss.

How the Procedure Works

Defect Assessment

Size, depth, and location of the cartilage defect are measured arthroscopically and on MRI. This determines which procedure is most appropriate.

Procedure Selection

Chondroplasty (smoothing) for minor damage; microfracture for defects < 2 cm²; OATS for 1–3 cm² defects; ACI for large or previously failed defects.

Microfracture Technique

Multiple small perforations are made in the subchondral bone — this stimulates a blood-rich clot that develops into fibrocartilage repair tissue.

OATS Technique

Healthy osteochondral plugs are harvested from a non-weight-bearing area and press-fit into the defect — providing durable hyaline-like cartilage.

Post-op Protocol

Strict non-weight-bearing or partial loading for 6–12 weeks allows the repair tissue to mature; full recovery at 6–12 months.

Outcomes

45–120 minDURATION

Day-care/1 DayHOSPITAL STAY

70–90%SUCCESS RATE

6–12 MonthsFULL RECOVERY

Who Needs This Treatment?

→Preserves the natural knee joint — delays or avoids the need for replacement
→Multiple techniques available — matched to defect size, depth, and patient age
→Microfracture and OATS are well-established with decades of evidence
→ACI uses the patient's own cells — completely biological repair
→Simultaneous treatment of associated meniscal or ligament injuries
→Best outcomes in younger, lighter patients with focal, isolated defects

"Cartilage repair is one of the most technically demanding areas of knee surgery. Selecting the right procedure for the right defect in the right patient is critical — a poorly chosen procedure gives poor results. We take time to get that decision right."

— Dr. Satish Reddy Gandavarapu, Senior Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon, Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Can knee cartilage regenerate naturally?+

What is the best supplement for knee cartilage?+

What is the difference between microfracture and OATS?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Book a consultation with Dr. Satish Reddy and get a personalised treatment plan.

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