Ask Dr. Van Thiel: How Does Cartilage Restoration Work and Who is a Good Candidate for That?

Some patients wonder if knee cartilage can be restored, and the answer is, absolutely. In this video, Dr. Van Thiel provides insight into how cartilage restoration works and how patients can know if they may be a good candidate for this type of procedure.

How to Restore Knee Cartilage

In order to restore knee cartilage, an orthopedic surgeon would take a small amount of cartilage from elsewhere in the body, or donor cartilage, and implant it in the area of the knee where the issue is. It is much like filling a pothole in the road, says Dr. Van Thiel.

Cartilage Restoration Techniques

There are a few types of cartilage restoration techniques, such as:

  • Arthroscopic Surgery
  • Microfracture
  • Osteochondral Transfer
  • Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI)

Who is a Candidate for Knee Cartilage Restoration?

People who have been experiencing knee pain, who do not have complete degeneration of the knee, but have not seen improvement in pain with other treatments are most likely prime candidates for a cartilage restoration procedure.

What are the Benefits of Cartilage Restoration?

There are a variety of benefits of cartilage restoration that patients experience, including:

  • Pain relief
  • Improved function and mobility
  • Delay or prevent the need for surgery later on

Trust an Expert like Dr. Van Thiel for your Cartilage Restoration Procedure

Dr. Van Thiel values getting his patients back to the highest quality of life as soon as possible after every procedure. Take a look at Dr. Van Thiel’s blog on The Basics of Knee Cartilage Replacement.

With a specialization in orthopedic surgery, he is the top choice surgeon for patients struggling with knee pain.

Make an appointment with Dr. Van Thiel today, or call our offices for more information.


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Patient Stories

Life changing patient stories

Read about Jack a multi-sport athlete, who suffered from a multi-ligament tear in his knee. Read about Abigail who fell and tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Life changing stories of patients healed by Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel.

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