Within the knee joint, the cartilage – the joint surface covering the ends of the bones – acts as a shock absorber that cushions the bones, allowing them to move smoothly. It can become damaged through arthritis or by an accident where the meniscus is torn during sports such as tennis, hockey, football or skiing.
If a fragment of cartilage is damaged or breaks away, it can cause:
Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and examine your knee to check for tenderness, stiffness, swelling and any difficulties with movement. In most cases, they will arrange for you to have an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis of arthritis. They may also arrange for you to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to show any damage to the soft tissue (cartilage, tendons and muscles) in your knee.
Treatment options depend on a number of factors, including how much the damage is affecting your everyday life and activities.
