Cartilage restoration is a treatment that can resurface, realign and stabilize a patient’s knee, thereby avoiding a joint replacement. This treatment is especially effective in patients who are under 50 and have an active lifestyle. There are two types of cartilage restoration:

• Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for larger areas of full cartilage loss
• Osteochondral transplant, in which harvested cartilage and bone plugs are transplanted to cover the bone and cartilage in the injured area

Rehabilitation

Recovery varies but can take up to two to three months before weight-bearing activities can begin again.