What is chondral wear?
Chondral lesions may be degenerative (a “wear and tear” problem) or traumatic (caused by an injury such as falling on the knee, jumping down, or rapidly changing direction while playing a sport). They do not always produce symptoms at first because there are no nerves in the cartilage.
Can a chondral defect heal itself?
Articular cartilage can be damaged by injury or normal wear and tear, and is often referred to as Condral Damage. Because cartilage does not heal itself well, doctors have developed surgical techniques to stimulate the growth of new cartilage. Restoring articular cartilage can relieve pain and allow better function.
What is chondral damage to knee?
Chondral injuries of the knee are lesions of the articular cartilage of the knee joint. (The colloquial expression “cartilage damage” might also include meniscal tears, which is an altogether separate category of disease.)
How is a chondral defect treated?
Cell-based therapy is a promising approach using the patient’s own cells for the treatment of chondral defects. There are marrow stimulating procedures and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). Marrow stimulating procedures include abrasion arthroplasty, drilling, and microfracture.
How bad is a chondral defect?
It is a common injury affecting 5-10% of people over age 40, but it can also affect young patients that experience traumatic injuries. Damage to knee cartilage can lead to osteoarthritis of the knee over time. Focal chondral defects are graded by severity.
What is chondral disease?
A chondral defect refers to a focal area of damage to the articular cartilage (the cartilage that lines the end of the bones). An osteochondral defect refers to a focal area of damage that involves both the cartilage and a piece of underlying bone.
What is chondral damage?
What causes a chondral flap?
Causes Articular Cartilage Fissure An articular cartilage injury, or chondral injury, may occur as a result of a pivot or twist on a bent knee, a direct blow to the knee, or wear and tear as a patient gets older.
Is a chondral defect arthritis?
Background: Focal chondral defects (FCDs) of the knee are believed to contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), resulting in pain and dysfunction.
Is chondral loss arthritis?
The patient’s condition may, in fact, result from a series of minor injuries that have occurred over time. Articular cartilage also wears down as a person ages. Chondral damage is graded from mild to severe, and all grades can have characteristics of osteoarthritis.
What causes chondral fissuring?
Repetitive activities, such as squatting or lunging, may overload the cartilage and cause it to crack, ultimately leading to chondral fissuring.
Does chondral defect need surgery?
The choice of treatment will depend on the size of the defect, its location, and the patient’s goals. Chondral defects are difficult to treat and can sometimes require surgical repair if all conservative measures have failed.