Single-stage cartilage transplant gives 53-year-old new lease of mobility in Chennai

Chennai: A 53-year-old man, who had been battling debilitating knee pain for more than 15 years, has regained full mobility and returned to a pain-free life after undergoing an advanced cartilage transplant procedure at a city hospital, officials said on Saturday.

The patient, currently employed in Madhya Pradesh, underwent a single-stage autograft cartilage tissue transplant in 2018 at MGM Healthcare Malar, Adyar. Six years on, he continues to remain symptom-free, underscoring the long-term benefits of the procedure, the hospital said in a statement.

Doctors said the man had been suffering from severe osteoarthritis, which had progressively damaged the cartilage in his knee and significantly limited his movement. The condition had also placed him on the brink of needing a total knee replacement.

Instead, specialists opted for a fifth-generation autograft cartilage tissue transplant, a minimally invasive arthroscopic technique in which healthy cartilage is harvested from the patient’s own joint and implanted into the damaged area. The procedure allows patients to bear weight and walk almost immediately after surgery, helping them avoid major joint replacement.

According to the hospital, the treatment involves preparing the cartilage graft, applying platelet-rich plasma derived from the patient’s own blood to enhance healing, and fixing the graft with fibrin glue, a natural biological adhesive.

Calling the outcome highly encouraging, Dr Nandkumar Sundaram, senior consultant in the Department of Orthopaedics, said the technique has proven to be an effective solution for patients with advanced cartilage damage, offering sustained relief and restoring mobility without the need for total knee replacement.

(with inputs from agencies)