Osteochondral Fixation

If you’re suffering from fragments of splintered bone floating around the knee joint, there are two issues to resolve: can we repair the damage and can we remove any fragments that can’t be repaired?

How do you treat bone and cartilage damage?

The term ‘osteochondral defects’ covers a range of conditions and injuries, but a common result of a defect is that fragments of bone and cartilage break free and are left to ‘float’ in the knee joint where they can cause a locking and catching sensation.

Large fragments: Some fragments can be pinned back in place using a procedure known as osteochondral fixation. Here, tiny screws and chondral darts fix the piece back in place. Fixation must usually occur soon after the injury/damage occurs because the fragment will ‘feed’ on the fluid in your knee joint and too great a delay may mean the piece no longer first back in its original position. With early treatment, however, there is a high degree of success.

Small fragments: We remove smaller fragments or larger fragments which can no longer be fixed back in position using arthroscopy (keyhole surgery).

If you’ve damaged your knee, talk to Alex now:

What happens if osteochondral fixation isn’t possible?

The body can’t regrow articular cartilage. That’s why osteochondral fixation is the ideal treatment where the fragments are large enough and in good enough condition to be pinned back.

Where that’s not possible, however, the scar tissue which forms at the point of the break may be sufficient for the joint to function largely as normal and without discomfort. Where that doesn’t happen, physiotherapy and rehabilitation may help. Beyond that, there remain further surgical options to address the issues. These will depend on the nature of the bone and cartilage damage.

Which products do we use?

Alex uses chondral darts and screws from BRAND.

How long does it take to recover from osteochondral fixation and arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy: You should be able to walk unaided within a few days of treatment at our Cheltenham knee surgery. Complete recovery can take 4-6 weeks.

Osteochondral fixation: Recovery time will depend on the position of the break. Where the fixation is on a weight-bearing surface, you will need to keep weight off the joint by using crutches for up to six weeks.

Where the fixation is around the kneecap, you may not need crutches but you will need to limit your mobility for around six weeks or so.

In both cases, you may need a course of physiotherapy-led strengthening after this period.

Talk to the knee surgeon for Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Cotswolds

If you suspect you may be suffering from bone and cartilage damage, the quicker you seek medical attention, the faster and more successful your recovery is likely to be.

Book your appointment with Alex now.

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Appointments

To make an appointment please either fill in the contact form and you will be called back by our secretary to arrange a convenient appointment time or get in touch directly.

Call Chrissie Holmyard 01242 246549 at Nuffield Health, Cheltenham.