I would like to ask you about my sister. She has been in an accident 1 year ago. She has recieved a back injury and knee trauma. Her back was operated on immediatly, but the knee problem was not seen as very pressing and was overlooked. Arthroscopy was performed, and it revealed that her cartilage was destroyed. Physical therapy did not prove successful. She has then had an X-ray and an MRI. Those test confirmed the earlier diagnosis and also showed ruptures in tendon and ligament. Now her leg is not fully functional when she tries to walk, she has a limp, and is frequently in pain after intensive walking. My question is: Could it be possible to Carticel for her? Would she be a good candidate?

Thank you in advance.

-Olga

Question submitted by: Olga Michailevich - OlgaM@e-and-c.com

Dr. Farr

Dr. Farr is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knee and sports medicine. He serves on the board of the Orthopedic Research Foundation and is medical director of www.cartilagerestoration.org and www.myknee.md, where emphasis is on exploring new ways to treat damaged cartilage. Dr. Farr is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA).

Answer:
Unfortunately, there is not enough information to determine whether or not cartilage restoration has a role. To make that determination itl is necessary to make a list of all her problems and then establish a rational pathway to address each one with attention on how the problems will interact. The first hope is to fully rehabiltate the limb in a protected manner. When range of motion, strength and stabilty are addressed the status of the meniscal and articular cartilage will have been documented and the options of cartilage restoration may be discussed. Please accept my apologies for such a generic answer, but we are lacking the needed full H&P, in person exam and all imaging studies. Consult your Orthopedic surgeon or visit a Cartilage Restoration surgeon in your area for a complete opinion.