Cartilage Transfer

Cartilage Transfer

This procedure uses healthy cartilage from an area of the knee, and moves it to a damaged area of the knee. There are two types of cartilage transfer procedures:

1. Mosaicplasty



It moves round the 'plugs' of cartilage and underlying bone to damaged areas. The plugs are few millimeters in diameter, and when multiple plugs are moved into a damaged area the result is a mosaic appearance (the multiple small plugs of cartilage look like mosaic tiles).
2. OATS

OATS stands for 'osteochondral autograft transfer system,' and the technique is very similar to mosaicplasty. In the OATS procedure the plugs are usually larger, and therefore only one or two plugs are needed to fill the area of cartilage damage. Because of this it does not take on the mosaic appearance, but the principle is the same .


Cartilage plugs:

The cartilage plugs are taken from areas of the knee that are non-weight-bearing areas. The hope is that the body will not miss this cartilage and it can be used where it is needed. Over time the holes left from where the plugs are taken will fill with bone and scar tissue.
Cartilage transfer procedure:

This procedure usually begins with an arthroscopic inspection of the knee. If there is a cartilage damage that is suitable for cartilage transfer, then the arthroscope is removed and an incision is made.
1st step:
Prepare the area of damaged cartilage. A coring tool is used to make a perfectly round hole in the bone in the area of damage. This hole is sized to fit the plug.
2nd Step:
'Harvest' the plug of normal cartilage. The plug is taken with the underlying bone to fit into the hole that was prepared in the area of damage. The plug is just slightly larger than the hole so it will fit snugly into position.
The 3rd and final step:
Implant the harvested plugs into the hole. Over time, the hope is that the implanted bone and cartilage will incorporate into its new environment.

For more details please contact:
Dr. Prateek Gupta (Senior Surgeon)
Arthroscopy Surgery Clinic
C2/5 Safdarjung Development Area (SDA),
Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi - 110016
INDIA
Telephones: +91 9810852876, +91 11 26517776
24 x 7 Helpline & Appointment: +91 9810633876
Email: sportsmedicinedelhi@yahoo.com,
sportsmedicineclinics@gmail.com
Website: http://www.sportsmedicineclinicdelhi.com/arthroscopy.htm,
http://www.sportsmedicineclinicdelhi.com,
http://www.arthroscopysurgeryindia.com