Understanding Cartilage Repair
Articular cartilage is the smooth, slippery surface that lets joints glide painlessly. Unlike most tissues it has a very limited ability to heal itself, so a focal area of damage can cause pain and swelling and, over time, progress to arthritis.
Cartilage repair uses keyhole techniques to stimulate or restore that surface — from microfracture, which encourages the body to grow a repair tissue, to grafting techniques for larger defects. Treating damage early can relieve symptoms and protect the joint's long-term health.
Key benefits
- Relieves pain from a damaged joint surface
- May delay or reduce the risk of progressive arthritis
- Performed arthroscopically through small incisions
When Cartilage Repair is recommended
How the procedure is performed
Mapping
The cartilage defect is located and measured arthroscopically to select the best restoring technique.
Preparation
The damaged area is cleared of loose and unstable tissue to create a healthy, stable base.
Restoration
Microfracture or grafting techniques are used to stimulate or replace the smooth cartilage surface.
Protection
Weight-bearing is protected to let the new surface form and mature.
Preparation & prerequisites
- A detailed clinical assessment and review of your scans (X-ray / MRI) to confirm the diagnosis and plan the surgery precisely.
- Routine pre-operative blood tests, an ECG if needed, and a fitness-for-anaesthesia check by the anaesthetist.
- Stopping blood-thinning medication (such as aspirin or clopidogrel) only if advised, and disclosing every medicine and supplement you take.
- Fasting for around 6 hours before surgery, and arranging a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you the first night.
- Preparing your home for recovery — ice packs, loose clothing, and a clear path free of trip hazards.
What recovery looks like
Weeks 0–6
Protected weight-bearing (sometimes with crutches) and gentle motion allow the repair to settle.
Weeks 6–12
Loading and strengthening are increased gradually under physiotherapy guidance.
Months 3–6
Return to impact activity once the new surface has matured.
How to recover well
- Follow the RICE principle early — rest, ice 15–20 minutes several times a day, gentle compression and elevation to control swelling.
- Take pain relief as prescribed rather than waiting for pain to build, and keep the wound clean and dry.
- Attend every physiotherapy session and do your home exercises — rehabilitation is as important as the surgery itself.
- Progress activity gradually and don't return to sport until you're formally cleared, to protect the repair.
- Watch for warning signs — spreading redness, fever, calf pain or increasing swelling — and call us if they appear.
Risks, safety & outcomes
In experienced hands this is a very safe procedure, and serious problems are uncommon. Every step is taken to minimise risk — but being fully informed is part of good care. Possible risks include:
- The repair tissue can be less durable than original cartilage
- Symptoms may persist if damage is more extensive than a focal defect
- Stiffness from the protected recovery phase
Results & outlook
Treating a focal cartilage defect early often relieves pain and improves function, and can protect the joint from the progressive wear that untreated damage may cause.
Frequently asked questions
The repair surface matures over several months, which is why weight-bearing and activity are increased gradually rather than all at once.