Cartilage injury is common. A study from 1992 has shown that cartilage injury was observed in. nearly 60% of patients undergoing keyhole knee surgery for various reasons. Most commonly, it occurs in the knees. Despite that, it may also hurt hips, ankles, and elbows.
Cartilage is a strong but flexible tissue that covers the surface of joints and acts as a shock absorber, allowing bones to slide over one another. The cartilage may suffer an injury during sporting activities. Osteoarthritis could be another reason that results in the gradual wearing and tearing of the tissue.
Minor cartilage injury may recover but the problem here is that the cartilage does not have its own blood supply and relies on “nourishment” from the joint itself. Often more severe cartilage damage would require surgery.
Symptoms
If you have suffered a cartilage injury, you will experience:
- Joint pain – You will experience joint pain throughout the day, even when you are resting. Your pain will be at its peak when you put weight on your knees.
- Swelling – It might take some time to develop swelling
- Stiffness, a grinding sensation are other signs of cartilage injury
Treatment
A minor cartilage injury will improve on its own within a few weeks. However, if you have suffered severe cartilage damage, you might need surgery to fix it.
Surgery is performed using arthroscopy – a type of keyhole surgery where instruments are inserted into the joint through small cuts (incisions) – although sometimes larger incisions need to be made.
The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia.