Cartilage injuries are one of the most common causes of joint pain and swelling, and affect an estimated two million Americans each year. Although they occur in people of all ages, they often occur in patients considered too young to undergo joint replacement surgery. In the past, treatment options for these patients were extremely limited; if patients were too young for joint replacement, traditional surgeries offered limited and short-term relief.
Over the past decade, however, great advances have been made in the treatment of these injuries. Orthopaedic surgeons have developed techniques to heal, transfer, transplant, and in some cases, even regrow, joint cartilage. Dr. Battaglia and the other surgeons at the Cartilage Center of NY are experienced in, and dedicated to, providing effective, more reliable treatments for damaged cartilage.
Effective treatment requires not only repairing the cartilage damage itself, but also correcting the underlying causes of the damage, such as malalignment, ligament instability and loss of meniscal function. Treatment recommendations are made based upon individual need, and to match the physical demands of our patients' lifestyles. This approach helps us maximize the success rates of our procedures.