Knee Cartilage Injuries Non-Surgical Treatment
Can a cartilage defect be treated without surgery?
Some people live active lives, never knowing they have a cartilage defect and don’t have any knee pain. When knee symptoms develop, patients can choose to treat either the symptoms or treat the structure and symptoms. Conservative treatment treats only the symptoms of a cartilage defect of the knee.
Non-operative treatment of a cartilage defect involves a change in activities to avoid movements that cause knee pain, including taking time off from activities that cause knee pain, using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation, and physical therapy. Typically, symptoms will resolve within several weeks of conservative, non-surgical treatment. An injection of a steroid, hyaluronic acid (gel injection), or PRP can also help relieve knee pain. If your knee pain is resolved with non-operative treatment and you are able to return to your desired level of activity, then no surgery is needed.
At a Glance
Dr. Jorge Chahla
- Triple fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon
- Performs over 700 surgeries per year
- Assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University
- Learn more