Cartilage helps your joints move smoothly, so that you can bend, turn and make similar motions with ease. As you get older, the cartilage in your joints can deteriorate due to wear and tear. Putting weight on these joints or doing repetitive motions over the years can cause this to occur, which can result in soreness and a more limited range of motion. When you have severe cartilage damage, nonsurgical treatment methods might not help. A cartilage transplant can help restore flexibility and ease pain, but is it the right option for you?
What Are Cartilage Transplants?
Cartilage transplants involve removing damaged cartilage and replacing it with healthy cartilage. This procedure is a minimally invasive one in which orthopedic surgeons make small incisions and use tiny surgical instruments. Using this surgical method is typically less risky compared to open surgery, which requires a bigger incision. Orthopedic surgeons carefully remove the damaged cartilage through small incisions, then place healthy cartilage in the affected joint. Since this procedure involves tiny incisions, the healing process is usually faster.
Benefits of Cartilage Transplants
A cartilage transplant can allow you to return to your regular activities or perform work tasks with ease again if you’ve been struggling due to joint pain. After this procedure, you should have improved flexibility in the affected joint. Keep in mind that cartilage transplants are typically done for smaller or localized areas of damage rather than an entire joint. However, these transplants might help reduce the risk of needing a joint replacement later on.
Good Candidates for Cartilage Transplants
Cartilage transplants are considered safe in general, but they’re not suitable for everyone. How do you know if this type of procedure is a good one for your joint pain? Orthopedic surgeons can evaluate your joint and consider other factors in order to determine if a cartilage transplant is suitable. In general, this procedure is usually better for those who are 55 and under and those who are physically active, such as athletes. Cartilage transplants are also typically better for those who have localized areas of osteoarthritis. Those who are not usually considered good candidates for this procedure include people with joint instability and those who have had any type of cancer treatment in the affected joint. Cartilage transplants are also generally considered unsuitable for those who are obese.
If you’re looking for treatment for persistent or severe joint pain, please contact Huntington Orthopedics for more information. Our orthopedic specialists can help you determine if a cartilage transplant is right for you.