News
31.08. 2011
Press Release
• co.don AG supports international congress for cartilage reconstruction surgery • International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) convened for the first time in Germany
11.08. 2011
Press Release
• co.don AG to grow cartilage cell transplants for Asklepios Group • Framework agreement signed with Germany's largest private clinic group
Cartilage Defects
Cartilage defects may have several causes. Sport
injuries or accidents can be considered the most popular causes leading
to cartilage defects. They result from the enormous force of pressure
onto the joint, occurring e.g. during body-intensive sports as soccer,
handball or hockey, but also during leisure sports such as skiing and
snowboarding every now and then. Usually a healthy piece of cartilage
is torn off from the tissue, which is called traumatic cartilage
defects.
Other reasons are illnesses (such as Osteochondrosis dissecans) or chronic dispositionings of legs (X- or O-legs), which can also lead to cartilage defects over time.
What do cartilage defects cause?
Articular cartilage defects pose a big problem. Compared to skin or bone, cartilage has only limited capacity to regenerate, i.e. the violated or destroyed cartilage does not re-grow into its original form. Instead, an inferior scar tissue develops in untreated cartilage defects. This scar tissue lacks both the functional and the histological characteristics of healthy articular cartilage.
The fibrous cartilage is relatively soft and will be therefore soon worn out again. This often leads to premature joint wear, which may finally result in osteoarthritis. In severe cases the joint has to be permanently fixated.
In the final phase an artificial joint has to be implanted, which is often connected with a decrease in patient’s quality of life.
Moreover, traumatic cartilage defects often cause acute pain with swellings, movement blockages, irritations or weight-bearing pains in the affected knee.
Other reasons are illnesses (such as Osteochondrosis dissecans) or chronic dispositionings of legs (X- or O-legs), which can also lead to cartilage defects over time.
What do cartilage defects cause?
Articular cartilage defects pose a big problem. Compared to skin or bone, cartilage has only limited capacity to regenerate, i.e. the violated or destroyed cartilage does not re-grow into its original form. Instead, an inferior scar tissue develops in untreated cartilage defects. This scar tissue lacks both the functional and the histological characteristics of healthy articular cartilage.
The fibrous cartilage is relatively soft and will be therefore soon worn out again. This often leads to premature joint wear, which may finally result in osteoarthritis. In severe cases the joint has to be permanently fixated.
In the final phase an artificial joint has to be implanted, which is often connected with a decrease in patient’s quality of life.
Moreover, traumatic cartilage defects often cause acute pain with swellings, movement blockages, irritations or weight-bearing pains in the affected knee.
