The osteochondral dilemma: Review of current management and future trends

Abstract

The management of articular cartilage defects remains challenging and controversial. Hyaline cartilage has limited capacity for self-repair and post-injury cartilage is predominantly replaced by fibrocartilage through healing from the subchondral bone. Fibrocartilage lacks the key properties that characterize hyaline cartilage such as capacity for compression, hydrodynamic permeability and smoothness of the articular surface. Many reports relate compromised function associated with repaired cartilage and loss of function of the articular surface. Novel methods have been proposed with the key aim to regenerate hyaline cartilage for repair of osteochondral defects. Over the past decade, with m..