Localised, isolated cartilage defects and degeneration with thinning of the cartilage are the first steps in the development of generalised osteoarthritis.
Cartilage regeneration is a panacea in orthopaedics. Should this become consistently possible in patients with degenerative joint disease, cartilage regeneration in combination with realignment procedures around the knee joint would effectively obviate the need for joint replacement procedures.
MRI scanning technology is consistently improving and we are now able to diagnose areas of cartilage loss accurately on MRI scan. This is advantageous, in so far as certain cartilage regeneration procedures limited in their indications based on the size of the defect.
In order for these procedures to work, the affected area of the knee must be unloaded.
