What to expect from cartilage repair surgery for knee cartilage injury

Knee cartilage helps the joint surfaces glide and absorb load. A surgeon chooses a repair method according to the defect's location, depth, size, surrounding bone, symptoms, and activity goals. Techniques may stimulate repair tissue or place cartilage and bone tissue into the damaged area. The knee is often swollen and stiff afterward, and the repaired surface needs protection while it integrates. A brace or crutches may be part of the early plan, but the exact restrictions are procedure-specific.

Follow the weight-bearing, brace, wound, and exercise instructions precisely. Early physiotherapy commonly focuses on controlling swelling, restoring safe knee motion, activating the thigh muscles, and maintaining strength elsewhere without stressing the repair. Progression to walking, cycling, balance work, running, and pivoting is staged according to movement quality and healing. Do not use reduced pain as permission to skip restrictions. Keep review appointments so the team can adjust exercises, assess motion, and address stiffness or weakness before they limit recovery.

Contact your team for increasing wound redness, drainage, fever, worsening swelling, or pain that is not controlled by the agreed plan. Seek urgent care for calf pain with swelling, sudden breathlessness, chest pain, a cold or pale foot, or new inability to move the ankle. A locked knee, sudden pop followed by loss of function, or a sharp increase in swelling also needs prompt review.

Ask which repair technique is planned, how much weight the knee can take, when bending may progress, which exercises are safe, and what milestones guide return to work or sport.