Well, strike one for me. I tore the cartilage in my knee. The surgeon did a debridement technique that didn’t work. The hole just got worse. Now what?
There are at least half a dozen ways to go about repairing a defect in the cartilage-bone interface of the knee. Debridement is just one.
If you’ve had this tear for a long time and/or if it is a large tear, you may be a good candidate for a procedure called autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). The surgeon will remove some normal, healthy cartilage cells and grow them in a laboratory.
The cells reproduce until there are enough to reimplant into the knee. This stimulates cartilage healing and repair.
In a recent study comparing debridement to ACI, ACI came out ahead in long-term results. Patients reported more pain relief, greater reduction of swelling, and improved function.
Ask your surgeon about available options. See if ACI is a possibility.
For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.
