Over time, the cartilage in your knee can deteriorate. Typically, it does not repair itself. If left untreated, this can ultimately cause pain and loss of function in your knee, making walking and other activities difficult.
Surgery for your cartilage condition can help to reduce any knee pain, restore the function of your knee, and potentially slow down any future deterioration.
Cartilage lines the ends of the bones in the knee joint. It allows smooth movement within the knee joint and to absorb and distribute your body weight when walking. Cartilage damage can vary in severity, from minor fissures and fraying of the cartilage to complete loss of cartilage with exposed bone.
Osteochondritis dissecans is an abnormal condition involving the cartilage and underlying bone within the knee joint. Although there are many theories as to what causes this condition, the exact cause still remains unknown.
