Do you know the root cause of knee pain in Osteoarthritis is Cartilage Damage or Degradation
Treatment depends on the type and degree of damage caused to the articular cartilage.
Chondroplasty
It is a technique to repair the early cracking of the cartilage layers. Using mechanical smoothers the cracked surfaces are smoothened. With this technique, only the smoothing of superficial layers of cartilage can be done.
Bone Marrow Stimulation
If there is full-thickness damage to the cartilage layer, then mere smoothing will not work. In the injured area, cartilage has been lost and that area needs to be again filled with new cartilage. A technique known as ‘microfracture’ is used for filling such defects. Small holes are created in the bone plate and these allow the healing cells to move into the cartilage defect and fill it with fibrocartilage. It is a very useful technique in the treatment of small full-thickness defects but is not efficacious in cases of large full-thickness defects. The reason behind this is that the fibrocartilage is not as strong or stable as the original articular cartilage.
Cartilage Repair
Cartilage repair is a very suitable option available for large full-thickness cartilage defects. For this augmented bone marrow stimulation is done and it is covered with scaffold material, which contains bone marrow cells. Gradually the cartilage is formed and this new cartilage is similar to that of the original one. The newly formed cartilage takes the place of scaffold material.
Re-alignment
Sometimes apart from the cartilage damage, there is irreparable damage to the bone structure. So even after performing cartilage repair, the knee is unable to take the load. In such circumstances, realignment is needed. Realignment can be of soft tissue or of bone. In cases of pain arising from the patella, soft tissue realignment is done. The realignment of bone is done in more severe forms of patella pain and instability. For this bone cutting and repositioning of bone at the tibial tubercle where the patellar tendon attaches is done.
Autologous SVF
The novel treatment for osteoarthritis of the knees is the use of regenerative medicine. Stromal vascular fraction, derived from adipose tissue is a heterogeneous combination of preadipocytes, pericytes, endothelial progenitor cell, T cells, B cells, Mast cells Adipose tissue macrophages, and Extracellular matrix.
The stromal vascular fraction can be easily isolated and delivered into the knee joint as a direct injection in the intra-articular space. The whole process is accomplished in a single surgical sitting.
Recovery starts the very next day of the procedure and relief from pain is seen within a week or two. Many studies done worldwide have shown long-term safety and effectiveness of this treatment.
Gradually the cartilage regrows and helps maintain the original structure for a long period of time. So you are pain-free with a fully functional knee joint.
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Knee Joint Replacement
The severity of osteoarthritis of the knee is assessed in grading. Grade 1 represents minimal damage to the articular cartilage and Grade 4 severe damage.
If your knee severity has been assessed as Grade 4, you are left with no other alternatives to repair or help in alleviating the pain. The only alternative available is to undergo total knee replacement. Joint replacement involves removing part or all of the joint surfaces in the knee and replacing them with metal and plastic components.
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