How your knee works
Your knee is a complex joint serving as the meeting point for three major bones: the tibia (shin bone), the femur (thigh bone), and the patella (kneecap). In order for your knee to flex freely, articular cartilage must protect where hard surfaces come into contact.
- Patella
Knee cap - Tibia
Shin bone - Femur
Thigh bone
Healthy cartilage is critical for protecting your knees
Cartilage is a strong, rubbery tissue found in many parts of the body, including joints. There are two types of cartilage found in the knee:
- Meniscus
-
Articular Cartilage
Healthy cartilage is critical for protecting your knees
Cartilage is a strong, rubbery tissue found in many parts of the body, including joints. There are two types of cartilage found in the knee:
- Meniscus—acts as a cushion between the knees
- Articular cartilage—covers the ends of the bones to ensure smooth movement
When cartilage is damaged, it no longer functions well to provide a smooth, impact-resistant coverage of your bone during activities such as walking, kneeling, running, and jumping.
Cartilage does not heal on its own
Unlike other tissues, cartilage does not naturally regenerate. Cartilage injuries can worsen over time if pain from knee cartilage damage is not addressed in a timely manner, potentially leading to further issues or the need for a more invasive surgery like a total knee replacement.1,2 Talk to your doctor about questions regarding the potential impact of cartilage damage and your options.
A study of patients undergoing cell-based knee cartilage restoration showed that cartilage damage can progress and new defects can form as time between sample collection and implementation increases.3
Cartilage defect expansion3
0.6 cm² mean change in defect size between cell collection & implantation
0.11 cm² increase in defect expansion per month delay to implantation
New high-grade cartilage defects3
16.2% of patients developed a new high-grade cartilage defect between cell collection & knee cartilage replacement
77% of knee pain sufferers say they can no longer participate in at least one activity they previously enjoyed because of knee pain.4
How cartilage can be damaged
Chronic or repetitive actions
Such as exercise, sports, or physical work can cause cartilage to weaken and wear over time.
Acute or traumatic events
Such as falls and accidents can cause immediate and severe cartilage damage.
See how untreated cartilage damage might affect you as time goes on
Use Tab and Arrow keys to move along the timeline, then press Space/Enter to select.
Time
Symptoms of knee injury5
Pain
Clicking
Swelling
Locking
Physical activities
Walk
Run
Bend down
Play sports
Climb stairs
Work out
Disclaimer: Knee cartilage damage does not heal on its own and may require treatment. Talk to your doctor or an orthopedic specialist to help assess what your next steps might be.
Wherever you are in your journey, it's important to take the next step.
If knee pain from untreated cartilage damage is starting to bother you, talk to your doctor now. Catching a cartilage defect early may help prevent further damage and reduce the potential need for more invasive procedures, like a total knee replacement.1,2
If you've had your first scope and your doctor recommended MACI, follow up about scheduling your implant. Scheduling sooner will help prevent further damage, and you can discuss the opportunity for a minimally invasive approach like MACI Arthro.
Are you ready to learn more about your knee pain?
Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Not sure what your knee pain is telling you? Take this short quiz to see how it may be affecting your life.
Is MACI right for you?
See how the MACI implantation procedure may be your next step.
References: 1. Ding C, Cicuttini F, Scott F, Cooley H, Boon C, Jones G. Natural history of knee cartilage defects and factors affecting change. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(6):651–658. 2. Guermazi A, Hayashi D, Roemer FW, et al. Brief Report: Partial- and Full-Thickness Focal Cartilage Defects Contribute Equally to Development of New Cartilage Damage in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017;69(3):560–564. 3. Pettit RJ, Everhart JS, DiBartola AC, Blackwell RE, Flanigan DC. Time Matters: Knee Cartilage Defect Expansion and High-Grade Lesion Formation while Awaiting Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. Cartilage. 2021;13(2_suppl):1802S–1808S. 4. Data collected from a 2019 Harris Poll survey of 1,002 US adults with knee pain 3 or more days a week that has lasted 2 months or more. 5. Gomoll AH, Farr J, Gillogly SD, Kercher J, Minas T, et al. Surgical management of articular cartilage defects of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(14):2470–2490.