Yes, you read it right. If you are hearing some cracking sound whenever you make a squat- either during yoga or during daily chores, it might be a cartilage warning. And cartilage plays a vital role in ensuring seamless and pain-free joint movement. Without prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it can lead to discomfort, severe pain, restricted mobility, and, in the long term, knee osteoarthritis.
This blog will unravel the cartilage mechanism, diagnosis of cartilage injury, and its various treatment types.
Decoding- Knee Joint Cartilage and its Mechanism
The tissue covering the limits of the bones on either end is known as joint cartilage. Its composition is basically Hyaline cartilage. The main function of joint cartilage is to offer a smooth surface that restricts the bone from friction damage caused by rubbing and other movements.
Just like every other joint cartilage, knee joint cartilage lacks its own blood vessels and is sustained by synovial fluid. Its structure is maintained by the cells within the cartilage (chondrocytes).
Symptoms of Knee Cartilage Damage
There are some typical symptoms of a knee cartilage injury and some of them are given below-
- Uneasiness and pain- in and around the knee. And it gets worse with time, especially after prolonged periods of inactivity
- Stiffness or swelling
- A feeling of catching or locking
- Limited range of motion
- Instability; where your knee might feel weak or unstable, especially when carrying weight
Generic Causes of Knee Cartilage Injuries
It is reported in several medical journals that the injuries can arise from several factors, including-
- Traumatic Injuries- sudden incidents, like the impact of a direct blow to the joint or twisting the knee during contact sports, can cause acute cartilage damage.
- Degenerative transformation refers to the wearing down of knee cartilage due to conditions like osteoarthritis. This leads to incremental joint damage. Redundant usage and aging also contribute to this deterioration.
- Miscellaneous factors such as- genetic tendency to weaker cartilage, coupled with lifestyle elements such as obesity, may influence the likelihood of injury.
What Entails Proper Knee Cartilage Injury Diagnosis?
Prompt and meticulous diagnosis of a knee cartilage injury involves a combination of clinical imaging and evaluation. A knee cartilage injury treatment in Mumbai or any other metro city in India would have the ideal set of diagnosis steps. This is because of the access to top orthopedics and physicians in terms of the healthcare centers.
In brief, the series of steps might involve-
- Physical examination and medical history- where the caregiver reviews symptoms, prior injuries, and activity levels to converge on the potential cause. The physical examination involves examining joint movement, identifying tenderness locations, and scrutinizing any imbalance or swelling.
- Imaging Tests- Here, the orthopedic doctor suggests going through MRI scans as they offer more in-depth insights into the knee’s tender tissues, including cartilage.
- Arthroscopy- In the case where imaging renders inconclusive, arthroscopy might be performed. This subtle invasive procedure involves inserting a tiny camera into the knee joint, making provision for a direct visual assessment of cartilage damage and other joint structures.
Types of Treatments in Case of a Knee Cartilage Injury
Knee cartilage damage treatment Mumbai or in any other metro city, varies according to the conditions of the patients. They can be classified into two broad categories:
Non-Surgical Treatment:
This includes some treatments that can be carried out in a home environment too.
- Rest, compression, ice, and elevation (RICE)- giving rest to your knee helps alleviate the pain. The application of ice helps reduce swelling and inflammation, while elevation and compression minimize fluid build-up, stimulating recovery and comfort.
- Physiotherapy- Focused exercises enhance the flexibility and strength of muscles supporting the knee. This minimizes the strain on the joint and improves stability. Subtle activities like cycling and swimming are often suggested by physicians.
- Medications- Sometimes doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain and swelling. It is generally recommended for short-term use during the initial recovery phase.
- Injections- the ones with Hyaluronic acid enhance the lubrication of the joint, promoting seamless movement. A specialized therapy by platelet-rich plasma taps into growth factors from the patient’s blood to promote tissue repair and minimize inflammation in some cases.
Surgical Treatment:
This type of treatment is required when the non-surgical steps no longer serve the purpose or it’s beyond the condition. - Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation- This surgical procedure involves garnering healthy cartilage cells from the patient’s own body, preparing them in a lab, and implanting them back into the damaged area.
- Microfracture Technique- Tiny holes are drilled into the underlying bone to facilitate the advancement of fibrocartilage- a kind, that fills injured areas. This methodology is often used for smaller injuries but may not restore the original cartilage’s total function.
- Osteochondral Grafting- undamaged cartilage is taken from another part of the body or from a donor to substitute the damaged one.
- Meniscus Replacement or Repairing- In this procedure, a stitching technique is improvised that allows the tissue to heal.
Conclusion
If you are having any of the preliminary symptoms of a cartilage injury, it is time you consult an experienced orthopedic as soon as possible. This will set you up for a thorough and accurate knee cartilage restoration.
If you are somewhere within and around Mumbai, then your best bet would be to consult our renowned orthopedic at shoulderandkneeclinic.com. With uncountable success stories and commendable years of experience, our top doctor is ready to give you a healthy lifestyle with a fit knee movement, in no time.
