PROF. DR. SAMMY HANNAMD · FACS · FRCS (TR&ORTH) · CCT (TR&ORTH)
CARTILAGE INJURIES · ABU DHABI
Articular cartilage creates the smooth, low-friction surface of the knee. A focal defect may follow injury or occur alongside meniscal or ligament damage, and its importance depends on symptoms, swelling, function, lesion characteristics and the condition of the rest of the joint. Prof. Dr. Sammy Hanna connects those pieces before discussing rehabilitation, joint-preservation strategies or surgery. Cartilage injury treatment in Abu Dhabi is available at Healthpoint Hospital.
CHAPTER 01 · THE PATTERN
Choose the closest description. These patterns help organise the assessment; they do not diagnose a cartilage defect on their own.
A symptomatic cartilage lesion may become more noticeable when the joint repeatedly carries load. The examination asks where the pain is felt, what movements provoke it and whether swelling follows activity.
See what the examination checks →CHAPTER 02 · EXAMINATION
Cartilage symptoms are not specific enough to diagnose from pain alone. The examination connects the symptom pattern with swelling, range, alignment, control, joint-line or patellofemoral findings and any instability.
Walking, stairs, squatting, running, jumping and change of direction load different parts of the knee and help define the functional pattern.
Effusion and restricted flexion or extension suggest intra-articular irritation and help determine whether the knee needs further investigation.
Alignment, patellar tracking, single-leg control and the location of tenderness provide context for which compartment or surface may be symptomatic.
Cartilage injury can occur alongside meniscal or ligament injury, so stability and meniscal signs should be assessed rather than assuming one isolated diagnosis.
Sport, work, stairs, kneeling, walking distance, swelling after activity and confidence under load matter more than an imaging grade alone.
“A useful assessment asks how the joint behaves under load—and whether the cartilage finding explains that behaviour.”
CHAPTER 03 · IMAGING
Plain X-rays help assess alignment and established arthritis but do not directly show articular cartilage. MRI can help define a focal defect and evaluate the underlying bone, menisci, ligaments and the rest of the joint when that information will change the plan.
SELECTED OBSERVATION 01 / 03
CHAPTER 05 · DECISION
Not simply because MRI shows a defect. A procedure becomes more relevant when a focal lesion plausibly matches the symptoms and functional limitation, appropriate non-operative care has not restored enough function, and the lesion and the rest of the knee provide a reasonable environment for joint-preservation surgery.
Symptoms, examination and imaging point to the damaged joint surface as an important source of the problem.
Recurrent swelling, pain under load or inability to return to important work, exercise or sport persists despite appropriate care.
Size, depth, location and the condition of the subchondral bone influence which restoration strategies may be reasonable.
Alignment, ligament stability, meniscal function and the amount of more generalised arthritis can change whether cartilage restoration is appropriate.
IF A PROCEDURE BECOMES PART OF THE DISCUSSION
These routes explain procedures that may be considered after an individual assessment; suitability depends on the lesion and the complete knee.
THE FUNCTION THAT MATTERS
Success is measured by what the knee can reliably do: tolerate daily load, recover after activity and return to work, training or sport without repeated swelling or loss of confidence. Imaging is one part of that outcome, not the outcome itself.
RELATED CLINICAL ROUTES
Pain, swelling and mechanical symptoms are not unique to cartilage injury. These routes help compare meniscal, kneecap, ligament and broader knee-pain patterns without assuming one MRI finding explains everything.
CARTILAGE INJURIES FAQ
General information only. A diagnosis and personal recommendation require an individual clinical assessment.
Request an appointmentArticular cartilage is the smooth hyaline cartilage covering the ends of the femur and tibia and the back of the kneecap. It creates a low-friction surface and helps distribute load across the knee.
No. A focal chondral defect is a localised area of joint-surface damage. Osteoarthritis is a broader whole-joint disease that may involve more diffuse cartilage loss as well as changes in bone, synovium and other tissues. They can coexist, but they are not the same diagnosis.
No. Cartilage abnormalities can be present on MRI without being the main pain source. Symptoms, swelling, function, lesion location and the condition of the rest of the knee all help determine whether a finding is clinically important.
Articular cartilage has limited intrinsic healing capacity because it has no direct blood supply. Symptoms from a small lesion may still improve with rehabilitation and load management, while selected focal defects may be considered for cartilage-restoration procedures.
No. History and examination come first. X-rays can show alignment and established arthritic change but do not directly show articular cartilage. MRI may be useful when defining a focal defect or associated bone, meniscal or ligament findings will change management.
It may be considered for selected symptomatic focal defects when meaningful symptoms or functional limitation persist despite appropriate non-operative care. Lesion size, depth and location, subchondral bone, alignment, stability, meniscal status, activity goals and the condition of the rest of the joint all matter.
Often yes, with sensible load modification. Rehabilitation can maintain conditioning while gradually rebuilding strength and tolerance. Repeated swelling, sharp pain or loss of function should prompt reassessment of the activity and the underlying diagnosis.
YOUR CLINICAL STORY
Bring the injury timeline, what activities trigger symptoms or swelling, previous imaging, previous rehabilitation or procedures and the activities you want to return to. The consultation connects the lesion with load, alignment, stability and function before the treatment conversation begins.
YOUR SPECIALIST
Prof. Hanna is a UK board-certified consultant orthopaedic hip and knee surgeon at Healthpoint Hospital, Abu Dhabi. His clinical interests include knee cartilage and cruciate ligament injuries, arthroscopic surgery for sports and soft-tissue knee problems, partial knee replacement, primary and revision joint replacement, minimally invasive techniques and robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement.