An osteochondral autograft is a technique to take a small piece of cartilage and bone from one area of the knee and put it in the area that the cartilage is missing. The cartilage is taken from an area in the knee that feels minimal stress, so it is thought that patients do not notice that the piece of cartilage is missing. This technique can be very effective for small areas of missing cartilage. An osteochondral autograft can often be performed by arthroscopic techniques, but sometimes requires an open incision on the knee.

• Patient Guide to Articular Cartilage Injury (1.1Mb)

© Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. May not be reproduced without the author’s permission. Images by MedImagery.net.