Cartilage Damage
Introduction
Source: NHS
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Cartilage damage is a relatively common type of injury. It often involves the knees, although joints such as the hips, ankles and elbows can also be affected.
Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissuefound throughout the body. It covers the surface of joints, acting as a shock absorber and allowing bones to slide over one another.
It can become damaged as a result of a sudden injury, such asa Sports injuries ,or gradual wear and tear ( osteoarthritis ).
Minor cartilage injuries may get better ontheir own within a few weeks, but more severecartilage damage may eventually require surgery.
This page covers:
Symptoms of cartilage damage
Symptoms of cartilage damage in a joint include:
- joint pain this may continue even when resting and worsen when you put weight on the joint
- swelling this may not develop for a few hours or days
- stiffness
- a clicking or grinding sensation
- the joint locking, catching or giving way
It can sometimes be difficult to tell a cartilage injury apart from other common joint injuries, such as sprains , as the symptoms are similar.
When to get medical advice
Ifyou've injured your joint, it's a good idea to try self-care measures first. Sprains and minor cartilage damage may get better on their own within a few days or weeks.
More severe cartilage damage probably won't improve on its own and if left untreated, can eventually wear down the joint.
Visit your GP or a minor injuries unit (MIU) if:
- you can't move the joint properly
- you can't control the pain with ordinary painkillers
- you can't put any weight on the injured limb or it gives way when you try to use it
- the injured area looks crooked or has unusual lumps or bumps (other than swelling)
- you have numbness, discolouration or coldness in any part of the injured area
- your symptoms haven't started to improve within a few days of self-treatment
Your GP may need to refer you for tests such as an X-ray , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or arthroscopy (atype of keyhole surgery used tolook inside joints) to find out if your cartilage is damaged.
Treatments for cartilage damage
Self-care measures are usually recommended as the first treatment for minor joint injuries. For the first few days:
- protect the affected area from further injury by using a support, such as a knee brace
- rest the affected joint
- elevate the affected limb and apply an ice pack to the joint regularly
- take ordinary painkillers, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Get medical advice if your symptoms are severe or don't improve after a few days. You may needprofessional treatment such as physiotherapy ,or possibly surgery.
A number of surgical techniques can be used, including:
- encouraging the growth of new cartilageby drilling small holes in the nearby bone
- replacing thedamaged cartilage with healthy cartilage taken fromanother part of the joint
- replacing the entire joint with an artificial one, such as a knee replacement or hip replacement this is usually only necessary in the most severe cases