The cartilage transplantation program at UCSD has performed more than 500 procedures over the last 20 years. The majority of the procedures are performed on the knee, with the remainder performed on the ankle and hip.

Good candidates for cartilage transplantation, also known as fresh osteochondral allografting, are active people under age 50 who have cartilage injuries or diseases and premature arthritis. They typically have a diagnosis such as traumatic chondral or osteochondral injury, osteochondritis dessicans, avascular necrosis, post-traumatic arthrosis, focal secondary arthrosis, or patella femoral disease. This cutting-edge procedure for resurfacing cartilage defects is not used to treat tumors or knee problems in older patients. In these cases, prosthetic joint replacement would be used.

Our overall success rate for cartilage transplantation and post-surgical treatment, based on measures such as pain relief, function, range of motion, and incorporation of the graft with host bone and tissue is about 75 percent. Specific success rates are as follows:

• About 90 percent or more for young people with focal cartilage injuries
• About 75 percent for completely replacing the ankle joint for all patients
• The 65-80 percent range for more complex or salvage procedures in patients who have undergone one or more operations

Initial Consult or Evaluation

If you are interested in the cartilage transplantation procedure, please call (858) 657-8200.