Bone-cartilage defect

Bone-cartilage defect: treatment options

Cartilage-bone defects can be caused by injuries, overloading, or degenerative processes. Depending on the size and location of the defect, various reconstructive procedures which replace the damaged area with the body's own cartilage and bone tissue.

In our department we offer innovative Transplantation methods such as the OATS procedure, the Mega-OATS transfer and Treatment options for unicompartmental osteoarthritis to.

OATS (Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation System)

If a focally limited cartilage-bone defect with intact surrounding tissue is found in the load-bearing zone of the knee joint (defect size up to max. 3 cm²), the transplantation of one or more autologous cartilage-bone cylinders from a low-load area of the knee joint represents a good treatment option.

Treatment principle

The Cartilage-bone cylinder are taken from a less stressed area of the knee joint and implanted into the damaged area to restore the original structure.

Areas of application

This technique is used not only on the knee joint, but also on other joints How:
✔ Upper ankle joint
✔ Shoulder
✔ Elbow

Individual therapy for sustainable cartilage and joint preservation

Use of state-of-the-art transplantation procedures

Targeted axis corrections to relieve the joint

Mega OATS

Very large bone-cartilage defects in the area of the main load-bearing zone of the femoral condyles can no longer be treated with individual small cartilage-bone cylinders.

Treatment principle

In these cases, the defect can be covered by a larger cartilage-bone disc from the posterior part of the knee joint (posterior condylar transfer).

Unicompartmental osteoarthritis

The knee joint consists of three compartments:
✔ Medial compartment (inside)
✔ Lateral compartment (outside)
✔ Retropatellar compartment (patellar joint)

If complete cartilage loss occurs in one of these areas, it is referred to as unicompartmental osteoarthritis. In these cases, the cartilage replacement procedures mentioned above are no longer possible.

Treatment options

Leg axis correction: If there is a misalignment of the leg axis, surgical axis correction can relieve pressure on the damaged compartment and reduce symptoms.
Partial joint replacement: In selected cases, we perform a (partial) joint replacement instead of replacing the entire knee joint.

Targeted cartilage therapy for long-term joint health!

Whether small cartilage-bone defects or advanced damage, our specialized procedures such as OATS, Mega-OATS, and unicompartmental joint replacement help you regain mobility and freedom from pain.

Get advice!

Make an appointment now for a personal examination and treatment:

Contact for Doctors

Book an appointment

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+49-(0)89 4140-7840

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sportortho@mri.tum.de

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House 524
Ismaninger Str. 22
81675 Munich