Cartilage Damage

Articular cartilage is the strong but flexible tissue covering the ends of bones inside your joints. Acting like a thin shock absorber, it enables the joints to move with little friction. Damage to cartilage can occur from trauma, such as a blow to the knee or a car accident, or from degeneration (joint wear and tear). It also can occur in the form of a cartilage tear. The result of this damage is joint pain and difficulty moving your joint.

Discover Our Difference

University of Minnesota Health orthopaedic surgeons offer leading restoration of damaged and diseased cartilage. Not only do our orthopaedic specialists use improved ways to image diseased cartilage, but they also offer innovative repair techniques. Our orthopaedic surgeons are highly experienced with osteoarticular allografts, autologous chondrocyte implantation and meniscal transplantation. Thanks to our physicians' expertise, we are a destination for patients from around the Midwest.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms. We offer physical therapy, tissue transplants to reconstruct the joint, implantation of cartilage producing cells, physical therapy and other options: