Understanding Articular Cartilage Damage

If you have been told by your knee specialist that the source of your pain is articular cartilage damage you may be wondering what was just said. Many people are unaware that there are several different types of cartilage in the body. Articular cartilage damage is a very common way of saying "knee injury" too, but it can also mean much more than that.

What are the different types of cartilage?

There are three different types of cartilage in the body, and they are found in three different places.

1. Fibrocartilage – this is found only between the bones of the spine and the pelvic/hip bones.
2. Elastic – this is a type of cartilage unique to the ears, nose and epiglottis.
3. Articular Cartilage – found between all of the joints of the body and the ribs.

What is the standard treatment?

Depending on the severity of the damage there are several different treatment options available. For slight tears and damage, ice and rest with physical therapy can be enough. For more serious tears, or if the cartilage has broken away from its main form and is floating within the kneecap, you will need surgery to remove the broken cartilage before it can do damage to the tendons or ligaments. Your knee specialist will want to image your knee or do a diagnostic arthroscopic exam to decide what is the best course of action for your treatment.

What can complicate recovery or raise risk for injury?

If you have osteoporosis, arthritis, lead a sedentary lifestyle or are overweight you can both raise your risk for articular cartilage damage and have complications in the recovery. For those with osteoporosis, your knee specialist can help you to determine what will be the best supporting medicines and supplements to assist your healing. Your knee specialist may also talk to you about changing the nature of your lifestyle, including footwear and the use of mobility accessories to decrease your risk for future industry.

What is articular cartilage defect?

There are many reasons why someone may be prone to repeated articular cartilage damage. If your knee specialist has seen a pattern of this injury in your history, they may want to do some diagnostic tests to examine whether or not you have articular cartilage defects. This means that there is an anomaly occurring within how your meniscus is shaped, or how your cartilage is repaired by your body that may make it more prone to being injured than it should be. There are various options for treatments that can help to strengthen, repair or replace the cartilage if this is the case.

Getting treatment and learning to prevent injury

If your knee joint is swollen, painful or difficult to move you need to consult a knee specialist. If you do have articular cartilage damage, leaving it untreated can cause serious problems in your life. To prevent loss of mobility, reduce pain and lessen the chance of needing a full replacement – see your knee specialist as soon as possible to find out what you can do to treat your issue, and how you can prevent future injuries from happening.

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