Dr. Beth Shubin Stein

Knee cartilage doesn't heal the way skin or bone does. Once the smooth, glassy tissue that cushions the ends of your bones wears down or tears, the body has very little natural ability to grow it back on its own. That's why a cartilage injury that might seem minor at first — some clicking, occasional swelling, a dull ache after a run — can quietly progress into a much bigger problem if it's left unaddressed. The good news is that orthopedic medicine has made real progress in this area. Patients diagnosed with a cartilage defect in 2026 have more options, better imaging, and more predictable outcomes than they did even a decade ago. This guide walks through what cartilage restoration actually means, who typically needs it, and how the major treatment categories differ — so you can have a more informed conversation with your own surgeon. What Is Cartilage Restoration, Exactly? "Cartilage restoration" is an umbrella term for a group of procedures designed to repair ...