Sven Putnis offers advanced knee cartilage regeneration in Bristol, including chondroplasty, nanofracture, and AMIC for isolated cartilage defects.
Articular cartilage is the smooth, highly specialised coating that covers the ends of the bones within the knee joint, allowing friction-free movement. Unlike other tissues, cartilage has a very limited capacity to heal back to the same structure once damaged. When a patient sustains a focal (isolated) cartilage defect, often from sports trauma, specialist surgical intervention is frequently required. Sven Putnis provides a range of advanced, evidence-based cartilage regeneration and repair techniques designed to restore the joint surface, alleviate pain, and prevent early-onset osteoarthritis.
Who Is This For?
The recovery and post-operative instructions vary significantly based on the position and treatment of the cartilage defect. The basic timeline and initial care can be very similar to an arthroscopic Meniscal Repair. However, aach plan is individualised and separated into phases:
Natural articular cartilage has no blood supply and cannot heal or grow back on its own. However, surgical techniques like nanofracture and membranes like ChondroGide can stimulate the body’s stem cells to produce a tough, protective scar tissue (fibrocartilage) that effectively fills the defect, relieves pain, and prevents progression
A chondroplasty simply smooths and seals the frayed edges of a shallow cartilage defect to stop it from catching and causing pain. A nanofracture is used for deeper defects; it involves drilling tiny holes into the bone to release bone marrow that encourage healing and form a new, protective fibrocartilage tissue layer over the exposed bone.
Recovery depends heavily on the specific procedure performed and the size of the defect. While a simple chondroplasty may allow for a return to light activities within a few weeks, procedures like nanofracture or ChondroGide require a strict, phased rehabilitation protocol, often involving a period of using crutches. A full return to high-impact sports can take 6 to 12 months.
If regenerative cartilage treatments are unsuccessful, or if the damage progresses to widespread osteoarthritis, other surgical options remain available. Depending on your specific anatomy and symptoms, Sven Putnis may discuss a realignment osteotomy, an intra-articular injection or a partial knee replacement to provide long-term relief.
Recovery Time
Varies significantly by procedure (weeks to months)
Success Rate
High for isolated defects (depends on technique and rehab)
Book a consultation to discuss if this treatment is right for you.
Book your consultation today and begin your journey to recovery with expert knee care in Bristol.
