The Story of Kneecap Cartilage: What Works and What's Next

Knee cartilage damage, especially around the kneecap (patella), is quite common. Unfortunately, these injuries don’t heal on their own easily, so surgery might be necessary to fix them, improve symptoms, and slow down the development of knee arthritis. We know a lot about fixing cartilage in other parts of the knee, like the tibia and femur, but information about fixing patellofemoral cartilage is more limited and debated. The kneecap's complex structure makes it tricky to treat, and results aren’t always as good as treatments for other knee areas. Sometimes, doctors combine kneecap surgery with other procedures to fix deformed bones. When all else fails, or if severe arthritis sets in, more significant operations like knee replacements might be considered. This review takes a close look at both non-surgical and surgical treatments for kneecap cartilage injuries, sharing the latest research and discussing what the future might hold.