Joint Preservation Procedures

What is joint preservation?

• It means treating damaged joints in ways that avoid or delay replacement.

Who needs it?

• Young patients with cartilage injuries, early arthritis, or deformities.

What are examples?

• Osteotomy (bone allignment correction), PRP injections, Chondrofiller injection, OATS, ACI, Meniscus repair.

Is it better than replacement?

• For young patients, yes – it keeps the natural joint.

How long do results last?

• Depends on the diagnosis and the procedure – often 10-15 years or more. For meniscus repair- it can postpone the joint replacement surgery forever but for an osteotomy, it can postpone by 5-10 years only.

Is recovery faster?

• Yes, usually quicker than replacement surgery.

Will it cure arthritis?

• No, but it delays progression of the arthritis.

Can it avoid future surgery?

• Sometimes yes, sometimes it only postpones replacement. It depends on the diagnosis. For meniscus repair- it can postpone the joint replacement surgery forever but for an osteotomy, it can postpone by 5-10 years only.

Is it painful?

• Much less painful than replacement surgery.

Who decides which procedure is right?

• Your orthopaedic surgeon after X-rays, MRI, and age/activity assessment.