ABSTRACT Lesions in articular cartilage can result in significant musculoskeletal morbidity and display unique biomechanical characteristics that make repair difficult, at best. Several

surgical procedures have been devised in an attempt to relieve pain, restore function, and delay or stop the progression of cartilaginous lesions. Advanced MRI and ultrasonography protocols

are currently used in the evaluation of tissue repair and to improve diagnostic capability. Other nonoperative modalities, such as injection of intra-articular hyaluronic acid or

supplementary oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, have shown potential efficacy as anti-inflammatory and symptom-modifying agents. The emerging field of tissue engineering, involving

to heal articular lesions. The future of cartilage repair will probably involve a combination of treatments in an attempt to achieve a regenerative tissue that is both biomechanically stable

and, ideally, identical to the surrounding native tissues. KEY POINTS * Cartilage injuries remain a major cause of morbidity in both young and elderly patient populations * Advanced imaging

with MRI and ultrasonography has resulted in improved sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of cartilage injuries * Surgical procedures have had some success in alleviating symptoms

and improving function; however, the regenerative tissue has not been found to resemble the surrounding native tissue * Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, oral glucosamine and

oral chondroitin sulfate seem to confer a therapeutic effect via anti-inflammatory-mediated mechanisms * Tissue engineering involving scaffolds, bioactive molecules and specific cell lines

has shown promising results in the treatment of cartilage defects Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

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about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS ALTERATIONS IN CARTILAGE QUANTIFICATION BEFORE AND AFTER INJECTIONS OF

MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS INTO OSTEOARTHRITIC KNEES Article Open access 05 July 2021 IN MAJOR JOINT DISEASES THE HUMAN SYNOVIUM RETAINS ITS POTENTIAL TO FORM REPAIR CARTILAGE Article Open

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AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Orthopedics, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, USA Robert J. Daher, Andrew S. Greenberg & Nicholas A. Sgaglione *  The

Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA Nadeen O. Chahine & Daniel A. Grande Authors * Robert J. Daher View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * Nadeen O. Chahine View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Andrew S. Greenberg View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Nicholas A. Sgaglione View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Daniel A. Grande View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Daniel A. Grande. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS N.A. Sgaglione has

acted as a consultant for Arthrocare, BioSyntech, ConMed Linvatec, Smith and Nephew Endoscopy and TiGenix. D.A. Grande has acted as a consultant for Arthrocare and TiGenix. The other authors

declare no competing interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Daher, R., Chahine, N., Greenberg, A. _et al._ New methods to diagnose

and treat cartilage degeneration. _Nat Rev Rheumatol_ 5, 599–607 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.204 Download citation * Published: 29 September 2009 * Issue Date: November 2009

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