This is a relatively infrequently performed procedure but one that can be effective as a joint preserving strategy in selected patients. It is considered in younger patients who have severe meniscal damage or insufficiency as a result of very large or numerous previous meniscal tears who have persistent pain and who have already developed some […]
Knee Surgery Archives
Osteochondral Autografting (Mosaicplasty)
This technique involves treating areas of full-thickness cartilage loss (bare bone) in weight bearing areas of the knee joint by taking cylinders of cartilage and bone from an area in of the knee not involved in weight bearing and placing them into cylindrical areas created in the bare bone area. As many plugs are used […]
Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation
This is now an established and very effective technique that allows treatment of cartilage defects to produce good quality cartilage that is very similar to articular cartilage, but without any donor site problems. It is a two-stage procedure. The first stage is performed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery) and a very small piece of cartilage […]
Micro Fracture & Cartifill Scaffold
This is a cartilage repair technique that aims to treat areas of full-thickness (bare bone) cartilage loss by reliably encouraging growth of fibrocartilage over the defect. Fibrocartilage is not as good as the original articular cartilage that existed before the cartilage damage occurred, but it is capable of giving excellent coverage of the defect and […]
Plica Resection
If patients have pain on the inner side of the knee which has been diagnosed as being due to a thick pathological plica (plica syndrome) then resection or trimming of the plica can give excellent symptom relief.
Fat Pad Trimming
If patients have symptoms due to a scarred and symptomatic fat pad, the fat pad can be trimmed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery). We commonly use a low temperature radio frequency probe to perform such surgery.
Loose Body Removal
Loose fragments of cartilage floating in the knee can cause pain and can cause the knee to lock up if they become trapped between the joint surfaces. These loose bodies can be removed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery) using special instruments resulting in complete relief of symptoms
Chondroplasty
This procedure is performed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery) and involves various techniques to deal with irregular articular cartilage surfaces. Such irregularities may be the result of a knee injury or can result from “wear and tear” processes in the knee joint. These can cause roughened areas of cartilage or loose cartilage flaps and fissures. These […]
Meniscal Repair
Some meniscal tears of appropriate configuration and location and especially in younger patients are suitable for repair rather than trimming. The procedure is performed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery). After careful assessment of the tear and freshening of the torn edges, the repair is performed by stitching the torn meniscus back together. After the procedure, patients […]
Meniscal Trimming
A variety of different types of meniscal tears can occur. Certain tears are suitable for meniscal repair and this is particularly the case in younger patients. A vast majority of tears, however, are best treated by trimming the tear. This is because the torn bit of meniscal cartilage irritates the joint causing swelling, pain and […]