Cartilage Center

The Center for Advanced Cartilage Repair and Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment is home to orthopaedic surgeons who are highly experienced in cartilage repair, meniscal transplantation, and osteochondritis dissecans treatment.

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Cartilage repair and regeneration

Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that absorbs shock, reduces friction between bones, and provides structural support. Damaged cartilage has a limited ability to repair itself, leaving you vulnerable to long-term joint pain, mobility problems, and severe arthritis. Addressing damage early is key to restoring healthy tissue and maintaining an active lifestyle.

At the Penn Center for Advanced Cartilage Repair and Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment, we use advanced techniques to repair and regenerate cartilage damaged by traumatic injury or repetitive use. We also treat osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a rare joint condition where a small piece of bone and the cartilage covering it crack and separate from the rest of the bone, causing pain, swelling, and mechanical issues.

Our cartilage repair methods are primarily used to treat knee injuries and are currently most effective in younger people with otherwise healthy joints and minimal or no arthritis. They usually aren’t suitable for treating large areas of cartilage damage or advanced arthritis. Our patients typically range from adolescents to young adults aged 15 to 35 years old. However, we also treat younger children and older adults, depending on individual circumstances and health factors.

Conditions we treat 

Deep experience in advanced cartilage care and research

Penn Medicine Orthopaedics offers the most advanced and effective cartilage repair and restoration options in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions. As one of the few centers in the nation dedicated to cartilage repair, we were among the first to focus on OCD. We’re also recognized as a global leader in advanced knee surgeries such as autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), which uses a patient’s own cartilage cells to repair the damaged area, and meniscus transplantation.

As one of the highest-volume cartilage centers in the world, our experienced team frequently performs these specialized cartilage repair and regeneration procedures. You can have confidence in our ability to vet you as a candidate and treat you safely and successfully. We have access to the most advanced treatment options and, as part of a large regional health system, collaborate with a wide range of orthopaedists and other specialists to deliver comprehensive care. We also partner closely with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to provide pediatric orthopaedic support to younger patients.

In addition to providing the latest advancements in clinical care, we are internationally recognized for cartilage research. Our investigations include cartilage development, biomaterials for cartilage repair, tissue engineering, translational studies, and clinical studies. We consider the latest available evidence and fully involve you in the decision-making process to determine your best treatment path.

Cartilage surgery for knee conditions

Our procedures are aimed at conditions that begin in the knee such as damage limited to a small, specific area of the cartilage, like a single spot or lesion in the knee. We seek to address these types of cartilage damage with advanced techniques to promote new tissue growth and cartilage regeneration, as well as tissue grafts and transplantations.

Conditions involving more widespread cartilage damage across a larger area or throughout the joint may require a different treatment option, such as knee joint replacement. In addition to restoring full mobility and function, our hope is to prevent or delay the development of these widespread conditions by intervening earlier in healthy, active people with cartilage conditions, by providing knee cartilage and meniscus repair treatments such as:

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation
Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation
Osteochondral Autograft Transfer
Osteochondral Autograft Transfer

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