CARTILAGE INJURY AND CARE
Dr. Bedford performs cutting edge procedures to fix defects and damage to articular cartilage, the cartilage coating the ends of the bones. When in pristine condition, this cartilage allows joints to glide smoothly through normal range of motion without pain and swelling. When damaged, there can be joint pain and swelling. See below for treatment options for a discrete, focal area of injury to articular cartilage.
Cartilage Patch
A cartilage patch is an implant made up of viable cartilage tissue and cells. This implant can be surgically fixed to a defined area of cartilage loss (think of a pothole in a paved road) to replace the lost cartilage. When the cartilage coating the ends of bones (articular cartilage) is damaged, the affected joint can be painful, swollen, or cause sensations of grinding and friction. You may damage your articular cartilage through a sports injury, a trauma or fall, or through wear-and-tear.
Dr. Bedford routinely performs the cutting edge surgery to place a cartilage patch. The procedure is athroscopically assisted, but involves an open incision and time in the operating room. The area of exposed bone where the articular cartilage has gone missing is cleaned and prepared for the implant, and the implant is cut to a size matching the defect and anchored into place.
Cartilage patches are only useful in small to medium sized areas of focal cartilage. They are not appropriate in a case of osteoarthritis, where the articular cartilage is more globally or generally thinned, roughened, or worn. A consultation with Dr. Bedford in the office as well as x-ray and/or MRI imaging can determine if a cartilage patch is right for you.
Osteochondral Allograft
An osteochondral allograft is an implant made up of donor cartilage and bone. This implant can be surgically inserted into a defined area of cartilage and bone loss (think of a deep pothole in a paved road) as a plug. When the cartilage coating the ends of bones (articular cartilage) is damaged, the affected joint can be painful, swollen, or cause sensations of grinding and friction. You may damage your articular cartilage through a sports injury, a trauma or fall, or through wear-and-tear.
Dr. Bedford routinely performs the cutting edge surgery to place an osteochondral allograft. The procedure is athroscopically assisted, but involves an open incision and time in the operating room. The area of injury is exposed and then cleaned and prepared for the implant, and the implant is cut to a size matching the defect and inserted into place.
Osteochondral allografts are only useful in small to medium sized areas of focal cartilage. They are not appropriate in a case of osteoarthritis, where the articular cartilage is more globally or generally thinned, roughened, or worn. A consultation with Dr. Bedford in the office and x-ray and/or MRI imaging can determine if this procedure is right for you.
Examples in Practice
More information coming soon!
Biologics: PRP and BMAC
Orthobiologics is a cutting edge area of orthopedics in which substances made up of viable tissue and cells can be used to promote injury healing. Dr. Bedford is widely versed in this area of orthopedics, and the procedures he performs include everything from stem cells to grafts. Dr. Bedford performs procedures using biologics in both the office and the operating room.
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Read more about the role of biologics in treating cartilage injuries here.