Cartilage Surgery Specialist

What is cartilage surgery?

Cartilage surgery is used to repair damaged cartilage, the smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones in your joints. This tissue helps your joints move freely and prevents pain that results from the friction of your joints rubbing together.

Age-related changes can lead to the breakdown of the cartilage. You can suffer pain and loss of range of motion if you develop tears in the cartilage of your joints from falls or other injuries.

Am I a candidate for cartilage surgery?

Surgery is usually the last resort to treat chronic joint pain or disability. Dr. Uquillas will first recommend non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments to ease your pain and improve your joint function.

Regenerative therapies use stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate your body’s ability to produce new, healthy cells to replace damaged tissue. Stem cells can develop into new cartilage to heal more efficiently and reduce the need for surgery.

If these treatments aren’t successful in treating your condition, Dr. Uquillas will suggest surgery to repair cartilage and restore your joint’s function. He carefully reviews your medical history and assesses your health to ensure that surgery is a safe and viable option for you.

He might also suggest surgery if you have osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This joint condition causes the bone beneath cartilage to die from a lack of blood circulation. The loss of bone can cause the cartilage to come off the bone and lead to chronic pain and limited range of motion in your joint.

What can I expect during cartilage surgery?

When your cartilage damage is severe, you’ll likely need a particular type of cartilage surgery called osteochondral autograft transplantation.

This procedure, more simply called a graft, involves transplanting cartilage from one part of your joint to another. Dr. Uquillas removes the graft from a non-weight-bearing area of the bone. He can also remove bone fragments that interfere with your range of motion, a common side effect of osteochondritis dissecans.

Following your cartilage surgery, physical therapy can be used to restore the flexibility and mobility of your joint. Dr. Uquillas continues to monitor your healing and recommends the right time to return to your usual pursuits, including exercise, sports, and other strenuous activities.

If you suffer from chronic joint pain caused by torn cartilage, don’t delay a diagnostic evaluation. You can call the office of Carlos Uquillas, MD, nearest you or request an appointment through the online booking feature today.