In this section Karen Hambly BSc MCSP (Sports Scientist/Physiotherapist) of http://www.cartilagehealth.com brings you an overview of the current practice in cartilage repair. Karen is very involved with leading cartilage repair specialists in establishing rehabilitation guidelines following surgery and investigating cartilage injury prevention.

Part 1 - Introduction to articular cartilage repair

• What is articular cartilage?
• How can you damage articular cartilage?

Part 2 - Articular cartilage damage

• How do I know if I have damaged my articular cartilage?
• How do I know how much articular cartilage damage I have done?
• What happens when you damage articular cartilage?
• Does EVERY articular cartilage defect end up as osteoarthritis?
• Can articular cartilage be restored once damaged?

Part 3 - Which articular cartilage repair procedure?

• Arthroscopic Lavage and Debridement
• Marrow Stimulation Techniques
• Osteochondral Autografts and Allografts
• Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
• Osteotomy

Part 4 - Articular cartilage repair rehabilitation

• Why is rehabilitation after articular cartilage repair so important?
• General principles of articular cartilage rehabilitation

Part 5 - Published literature