CARTILAGE RESTORATION - KNEE ANATOMY

Femur – Thigh bone – forms the top of the knee. At the knee joint there are two rounded prominences called condyles. The one toward the inner thigh is the medial femoral condyle and the one toward the outer thigh is the lateral femoral condyle. The depressed area between the two condyles is called the trochlear groove. Both of these are covered by articular cartilage.

Tibia – Shin bone – forms the bottom of the knee. At the knee joint it is flattened and has a medial tibial plateau and a lateral tibial plateau. These plateaus are where the meniscus sit.

Patella – kneecap – round bone that glides through the trochlear groove on the femur when the knee bends and straightens.

Articular cartilage – A complex tissue formed by several different layers of cells. It’s primary components are water, chondrocytes, proteoglycans and collagen. It is a firm, rubber like tissue that covers the end of the femur and tibia and back of the patella. This layer provides a slippery surface and allows for smooth and easy joint movement.

Meniscus – Two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that sit on the tibial plateaus, one medial and one lateral. They provide a cushion and help to distribute forces between the tibia and the femur during weight bearing.

Cartilage restoration surgery is only indicated when there is an injury to an otherwise normal knee.

If a knee has degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), then other treatments are more appropriate (medication or joint replacement).