Knee cartilage surgery is performed when the meniscus is severely damaged or torn and conservative treatments are ineffective in relieving the symptoms of the injury.
Knee cartilage repair surgery aims to enable the patient who suffers from severe pain and difficulty in movement to get rid of these symptoms without the need for a complete knee joint replacement.
Turkey has been able to provide the latest methods and technologies necessary to perform arthroscopic knee cartilage surgery, which is easy to perform and quick recovery after, and the cost of knee meniscus surgery in Turkey is much lower than other countries despite its high efficiency, follow us to find out everything you want about the operation knee cartilage.
An overview of the knee cartilage surgery
The human knee contains two pieces of C-shaped meniscus. The meniscal cartilages perform the function of facilitating the movement of the joint, as they act as a gliding cushion for movement between the shin and thigh bones, in addition to absorbing shocks and protecting the joint from exposure to injuries.
The knee cartilage is exposed to the risk of rupture or cutting in the case of injuries affecting the cartilage level, and the most common injury to the meniscus is seen in athletes, especially football and basketball players, because they are more susceptible to injuries than others, but some diseases may cause weakness and erosion in the cartilage, which makes it vulnerable to rupture And cut to a larger shape.
There are many non-surgical methods used in the course of treatment Meniscus tear Mild or moderate intensity such as exercise and physical therapy with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and the application of ice on the knee, but these treatments may be ineffective in the case of severe cutting of the cartilage, and here may appear the need to perform a knee cartilage surgery to repair the cartilage injury and relieve pain while improving the range of motion.
The surgeon may resort to a modern technique in performing this type of operation known as knee arthroscopy, which is distinguished by its ability to diagnose problems and disorders of the meniscus in its early stages and to determine the presence of damage or slight erosion of the cartilage by obtaining a clear view of the knee joint and its components.
When is knee cartilage surgery performed?
Usually, the surgeon resorts to knee cartilage surgery when the cartilage injury becomes severe and affects the life of the patient, with the failure of less invasive treatment methods to improve and relieve symptoms.Osteoarthritis) which often affects the elderly.
There is no doubt that the most common cause of injury to the meniscus is the injuries of athletes resulting from a sudden change in the direction of movement or lifting heavy weights and other sports activities that place a heavy burden on the cartilage.
Types of knee cartilage surgery and how to perform it in Turkey
There are many methods through which meniscus repair surgery is performed. Choosing the appropriate method depends on several factors, including the degree and size of the knee cartilage rupture, in addition to the general health condition of the injured person.
The surgery may be done using one of these techniques:
Arthroscopic knee cartilage surgery
The arthroscopy is one of the best surgical techniques used in most knee surgeries because it is less invasive and dangerous than the traditional open surgery, in addition to that it does not require a large surgical incision and the recovery period after it is short, as the person is usually able to leave the hospital on the same day after the operation.
During arthroscopy, the surgeon makes small surgical incisions through which a camera is inserted that allows the surgeon to have a clear view of the joint and diagnose its diseases. Endoscopy is also used to treat and perform various operations on the knee with the help of surgical tools inserted through the incisions previously made. Read more about knee arthroscopy.
The surgical technique for arthroscopic knee cartilage surgery varies according to the severity of the cartilage rupture. Among the most important methods used in arthroscopic knee cartilage surgery are the following:
Knee cartilage surgery by removing part of the cartilage
In mild cases of cartilage rupture, the surgeon may suffice with excision and debridement of the ruptured parts of the knee joint cartilage and keep the other healthy parts of the cartilage. It only relieves symptoms and does not treat the main problem, so it is often combined with another method of treatment.
Knee cartilage surgery by making tiny holes in the cartilage
The main reason torn cartilage cannot heal and heal is that the cartilage tissue does not have blood vessels to allow the flow of blood and the proteins needed for severe cartilage damage to heal on its own.
Through surgery, it is possible to increase blood flow to the cartilage, as this procedure involves making tiny holes in the bones surrounding the cartilage to allow bone marrow components to reach the surface of the cartilage, which accelerates healing and the formation of a new cartilaginous part that replaces the damaged part and performs its function.
Patients must strictly adhere to the recovery procedures specified by the specialist after Knee cartilage surgery With microfractures, such as using crutches, avoiding activity that puts a load on the knee, and other things.
Knee cartilage repair by transplanting cartilage cells
This procedure is recommended for young people and people with active mobility, such as athletes who have had a cartilage tear of less than 2 cm in size. This procedure aims to prevent the development of cartilage degeneration while stimulating the growth of a new cartilage surface in place of the damaged surface, and it may be useful in avoiding or delaying the need for surgery Total knee replacement with an artificial joint.
This surgery involves two stages. In the first stage, the joint surgeon removes a biopsy from the affected knee cartilage through the joints Knee arthroscopyThen this biopsy is sent to the laboratory to stimulate the growth of millions of cartilage cells, and then the sample is returned to the surgeon for use in the next stage.
In the second stage, a surgical incision is made in open surgery until the previous sample is implanted in the area of the cartilage injury. The implant cells mature and grow with the passage of time to form new tissue that fills the place of the torn and injured tissue. The time period may reach a year and a half until cartilage growth is complete in the transplantation area.
Knee cartilage surgery with autografts
The transplantation of autografts is performed in the small tears of the meniscus, and it is done by pulling and removing a healthy cartilage part from the knee of the same person, so that this graft cannot bear the weight of the body during walking and movement, so that later the sample taken will be re-implanted in the area of the cartilage rupture.
Meniscus surgery by transplanting a graft from a donor
This procedure is less common than the previous operations and is used in very severe injuries to the knee cartilage. The idea of the operation involves obtaining a cartilage plug from the body of a deceased person and implanting it in the place where the meniscus was torn.
Open knee cartilage surgery
Open knee meniscus surgery has become less common than it used to be. This is due to the emergence of more modern and less risky and invasive techniques than the traditional cartilage surgery, such as the use of advanced knee arthroscopy.
This surgery is reserved for cases of complex injuries mixed with multiple joint injuries that are difficult to repair without making large surgical incisions or in operations that require implantation of grafts and other procedures that require an open operation.
Tips after meniscus surgery
Every patient who underwent this surgery should strictly follow the instructions and instructions of his doctor, as the period following the operation is a sensitive period and may pass quickly and the patient can return to his routine activities, and it may be prolonged, hindering the patient from practicing his life normally.
We cannot specify a fixed recovery period for all patients, because the circumstances of each person’s operation differ from the circumstances of the other person due to many factors, the most important of which is the degree of rupture of the knee cartilage that necessitated the operation, but usually the period that a person needs varies until he fully recovers from the operation and returns to practicing all His previous activities ranged from 3 to 6 months, on average.
We will mention some tips that help speed up and facilitate the recovery phase, including:
Physiotherapy after meniscus surgery
Physical therapy is of great importance because it facilitates the recovery and recovery of cartilage so that the person can quickly return to his daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs and housework. The exercises also maintain the strength and flexibility of the knee muscles to prevent muscular atrophy, in addition to preventing the formation of blood clots as a result of stagnation that may be caused by prolonged lying in bed. After knee cartilage tear surgery.
An expert will Physiotherapy By teaching you a set of exercises designed to improve and restore your natural range of motion while relieving the pain that you may feel after the operation in addition to improving blood flow to your knee and will also prevent you from some activities that may harm and delay healing and recovery. Meniscus of the knee You have such as squatting or jumping and other positions.
Knee cartilage surgery success rate
Meniscal cartilage surgery is accompanied by satisfactory results in most cases, especially when it is performed with the latest methods under the supervision of a doctor with significant experience. Statistics indicated a success rate ranging from 70 to 90%. It led to knee pain and a feeling of discomfort for them.
These percentages differ according to some factors such as the age of the person, his health condition before undergoing surgery, and the method in which the operation was performed. The use of knee arthroscopy carries higher rates of success with the possibility of fewer complications, and we do not forget the important role of the surgeon’s experience, which plays a role in increasing the estimated rate of success of the procedure.
Knee cartilage damage
Any medical intervention is not without the risk of some side complications, even if they are rare, and the less invasive the surgery, the lower the risk of complications, so the knee cartilage arthroscopy is less risky than the open cartilage surgery, which makes arthroscopy the preferred choice for knee operations.
We mention the most important possible complications of the operation:
- Infection around the surgical wound area
- Injury to the nerves surrounding the surgical site
- Heavy bleeding or the formation of blood clots
- Stiffness and stiffness in the knee joint
- The absence of the desired benefit from the process
Knee cartilage surgery cost in Turkey 2023
As for the cost, it changes according to many factors, such as how the surgery is performed, the severity of the cartilage rupture, and the nature of the surgical work. However, the cost of knee cartilage surgery in Turkey often ranges from 2200 to 4500 USD, and it may be more than that in more complex operations to repair the meniscus. You can contact us to request More details about prices and to guide you to the best specialized surgeons in Turkey.
In the end, knee cartilage surgery has different types and methods. It may be performed with arthroscopy or through traditional surgery, both of which aim to repair the rupture and injury of the meniscus, as it relieves symptoms and improves the quality of life for patients, in addition to it is useful in delaying and avoiding the need for complete knee joint replacement surgery.
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