The latest treatments for cartilage wear in the knee include two surgical methods: microfracture and autologous osteochondral grafting.
“Microfracture” refers to the treatment of damaged cartilage through the application of a surgical procedure that involves arthroscopically drilling small holes in the joint surface with a grinder until blood is present, which encourages the production of new tissue on the surface of the joint through the proliferation of bone marrow. However, the newly created fibrocartilage is more like scar tissue and is not as flexible as natural cartilage.
Autologous osteochondral grafting involves arthroscopic surgery to transplant cartilage from the non-weight-bearing area of the femoral condyle into the area of wear and tear and repair the cartilage through growth over time.
Cartilage in adults has little or no regenerative potential, so it must be well protected. Seek medical attention for any discomfort.