Orthopaedic Services

Cartilage Preservation & Restoration

Cartilage problems don’t always mean “live with it” or “replace the joint.” For the right knee, shoulder, or elbow, cartilage preservation can reduce pain, protect the joint, and help you stay active longer.

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What is cartilage preservation?

Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet in a joint. When it’s healthy, it lets the joint move quietly and comfortably. When it’s damaged, you may feel deep, mechanical pain, swelling, catching, or a sense that the joint “isn’t right.”

Cartilage does not heal itself well, which is why cartilage preservation and restoration exist. These are techniques designed to:

  • Repair or stimulate new cartilage growth
  • Protect remaining healthy cartilage
  • Delay or sometimes prevent the need for joint replacement in the future

Dr Tracye Lawyer specialises in cartilage preservation and regenerative techniques for the knee, shoulder, and elbow, with a focus on keeping people moving, working, and playing sport.

Dr Lawyer’s approach & techniques

Dr Lawyer has trained in, and actively teaches, advanced cartilage techniques, including: MACI (cell-based cartilage repair), OATS (osteochondral autograft transfer), BioCartilage, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.

Depending on your joint, imaging, and goals, your plan might include:

  • Non-operative care
    • Targeted physical therapy
    • Load modification and cross-training
    • Bracing or taping in some cases
  • Cartilage-focused procedures
    • Debridement / chondroplasty to smooth roughened areas
    • Microfracture or other marrow-stimulation techniques
    • OATS or osteochondral grafts to replace focal defects with healthy cartilage/bone
    • MACI or similar cell-based procedures in selected patients
    • Adjuncts like BioCartilage and PRP when appropriate

The goal is not just a better MRI. It’s a joint that behaves better in real life.

    Who is cartilage preservation for?

    You might be a candidate if:
    • You have focal cartilage damage (a “pothole” in the surface), not full-blown end-stage arthritis
    • Pain is deep and mechanical, often with swelling after activity
    • X-rays may look “not that bad,” but MRI shows a clear cartilage lesion
    • You’re younger or middle-aged and want to stay active for many years
    For joints with more advanced, diffuse wear-and-tear, joint replacement may still be the better option. Dr Lawyer will be very clear about which path fits your joint.

    Recovery & timelines

    Timelines vary widely by procedure and joint, but broadly:
    • Simple arthroscopic debridement: often a few weeks of focused rehab
    • Marrow stimulation / OATS: several months of modified weight-bearing and progressive strengthening
    • Cell-based procedures (e.g. MACI): longer, staged recovery with a strong emphasis on protecting the repair early and then carefully loading it later

    Most patients can expect a gradual ramp-up in activity over 3–9 months, depending on the procedure. Long-term, a home exercise plan and workload management remain important.

    For a general overview of articular cartilage restoration, AAOS has a helpful guide: Articular Cartilage Restoration.

Cartilage Preservation FAQs

It depends on the pattern and severity. Localised damage sometimes responds very well to preservation techniques. More advanced, diffuse arthritis may be better suited to other options. Imaging and exam are key.

No treatment can promise that. The goal is to reduce pain, improve function, and in some cases delay or reduce the likelihood of needing a replacement.

It varies by procedure, but many patients use crutches for several weeks while weight-bearing is gradually increased. Dr Lawyer will give you a specific protocol for your surgery.

  • Cartilage Preservation & Restoration