Cartilage defects of the ankle

Symptoms

When cartilage is affected, the ankle feels painful and unstable. The ankle is thick, "locks up" or creaks painfully and audibly. Cartilage cannot fully repair itself because there are no blood vessels or nerves in it. Because of this, cartilage damage is not felt until the tissue around it becomes irritated. A small piece of cartilage may be broken locally or the cartilage may be damaged over the entire surface.

Diagnosis

The final diagnosis is made by asking specific questions about symptoms and an examination of the joint. An X-ray is also taken.

RX skeleton

If this does not provide enough information, an additional NMR scan (MRI) or CT scan may be performed.

‍Treatment

During keyhole surgery, a cartilage defect is treated by 'drilling up' the defect. First, loose cartilage pieces and damaged cartilage are removed. Next, a thin drill is used to make holes in the bone layer below the cartilage. Bone marrow cells that can make scar cartilage fill the holes in the cartilage. This stimulates repair of the cartilage.

If the cartilage defect contains a large loose fragment, the defect can also be cleaned and then fixed with a small screw.

Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)