About Knee Cartilage Damage
Articular cartilage may be damaged by sports activities, traumatic injuries, work injuries, or daily wear and tear. Articular cartilage damage often occurs in conjunction with damage to another area of the knee, for example the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or the meniscus.
Similarly, meniscal cartilage damage can occur during everyday activities without specific trauma, or from a trauma that occurs during sport or at the workplace. Once there is an injury to the meniscal cartilage, the body's response is often pain and swelling. At times, the knee may "lock" or "give way." A meniscal tear causes the body's weight to be distributed unevenly and, over time, this can lead to degenerative arthritis.
Cartilage does not have a natural ability to heal and, if left untreated, articular defects, or lesions, can cause further deterioration in the joint surface leading to the development of more serious conditions, such as osteoarthritis.
The level of pain and discomfort patients experience is often related to the size of the injury. Compared to smaller defects, large cartilage defects tend to be more painful, more restrictive on the ability to play sports, and affect everyday activities to a greater extent.