Cartilage often can't heal itself, so if you get a cartilage injury, surgery may be needed to regrow or replace the damaged cartilage. Surgery can help reduce your pain and help you get back to normal activities. It can also help reduce your risk of developing arthritis later in life.
There are several types of cartilage surgery, including:
- Debridement, where loose pieces of cartilage are removed
- Microfracture surgery, which involves creating small holes in the cartilage to encourage healing
- Cartilage transplantation, where the damaged cartilage is replaced by cartilage from another part of your joint or from a donor
Cartilage repair can have a long recovery time. You may have to use crutches for up to two months, and may not be able to get back to all your normal activities for a year.