Do you need a knee or ankle cartilage specialistPersistent knee or ankle pain, swelling or loss of function despite simple self-care usually warrants orthopaedic assessment; a cartilage or joint-preservation specialist is most useful when MRI shows a focal defect in a relatively healthy joint, while diffuse wear-and-tear or advanced arthritis usually suits a general orthopaedic or sports surgeon.Persistent knee or ankle pain, swelling or loss of function despite simple self-care usually warrants orthopaedic assessment; a cartilage or joint-preservation specialist is most useful when MRI shows a focal defect in a relatively healthy joint, while diffuse wear-and-tear or advanced arthritis usually suits a general orthopaedic or sports surgeon.
Choosing cartilage repair pathways for knee and ankleSmall focal cartilage defects in the knee and ankle are treated differently from diffuse arthritis: first with physiotherapy and symptom control, then with repair procedures such as microfracture for lesions under about 1.0 cm², scaffold augmentation for larger defects, and OATS or osteochondral allograft for bigger or cystic lesions.Small focal cartilage defects in the knee and ankle are treated differently from diffuse arthritis: first with physiotherapy and symptom control, then with repair procedures such as microfracture for lesions under about 1.0 cm², scaffold augmentation for larger defects, and OATS or osteochondral allograft for bigger or cystic lesions.