Knee Cartilage Repair in Raleigh, NC
What is a cartilage injury?
Your knee contains two types of cartilage, one known as the meniscus and the other known as articular cartilage. These help keep your knees moving without friction or pain by cushioning the bones that make up your knee joint. When a portion of your knee cartilage becomes damaged due to a sports injury, trauma, or long-term wear and tear, the results can be incredibly painful.
Dr. Dare is a certified physician specializing in cartilage injuries and other problems that affect the knee joints. He’s had years of experience helping patients from all walks of life and activity levels to gain better function and lowered pain after a cartilage injury.
What are the most common knee cartilage conditions?
Below are some of the most common knee cartilage conditions that Dr. Dare can help you manage or resolve:
Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis refers to cartilage damage brought on by long-term wear and tear, prior knee injury, or an irregular immune system response that causes your body to harm healthy cartilage tissues. Some of the symptoms of knee arthritis include:
- Chronic knee pain
- Decreased range of motion in the knee
- Trouble performing regular activities, like running or walking
Meniscus Injuries
Your meniscus is a cushion or shock absorber for your knee, maintaining your knee stability and adding padding and support in the knee. A meniscus injury can happen to anyone but is most common in athletes who tend to change directions or pivot suddenly, such as in basketball. Some of the symptoms related to meniscus injuries include:
- Knee pain and swelling
- Locking of the knee
- Inability to straighten the knee fully
- Difficulty walking
Articular Cartilage Injury
Your articular cartilage refers to the smooth lining of the bones that comprise your knee joint. It allows for frictionless and pain-free motion of the knee. Articular cartilage can be damaged as a result of trauma or a condition called osteochondritis dissecans. More diffuse articular cartilage loss is more likely attributable to long-term wear and tear, which is called osteoarthritis. Symptoms of articular cartilage injury include:
- Clicking sounds in the knee
- Chronic knee pain
- Knee swelling
- Decreased range of motion in the knee
How is a knee cartilage injury treated?
Dr. Dare has extensive experience treating cartilage injuries using both conservative treatments as well as advanced surgical modalities. Whenever possible, he recommends nonoperative approaches to relieving knee pain associated with cartilage damage. These options may include:
- Rest
- Activity level and lifestyle modifications
- Heat/ice therapy
- Physical therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Injection therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
While many knee injuries can be resolved with conservative options, there are some cases that will require surgical intervention. In those cases, Dr. Dare is knowledgeable and experienced in the latest surgical techniques for restoring damaged knee cartilage using arthroscopic knee surgery. Depending on your needs, Dr. David Dare works with you to create a unique treatment plan that gets you back to your best level of performance and health.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a cartilage injury, consult an orthopedic knee specialist who can help relieve your pain and restore knee function. Dr. David Dare is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and knee surgery. His primary goal is to develop an effective treatment plan using the least invasive techniques to relieve your knee pain, restore function, and get you back to feeling your best. Call 919.781.5600 or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dare today.
