Is there an option to repairing a knee that has worn out cartilage, other than total knee replacement?

Yes: It depends on what is worn and how badly. Steroid & hyaluronic injections can last 3 to 9 months. For small defects, microfracture, cartilage transplant, & Carticel work. With an absent meniscus, allograft transplant is an option. For bone on bone arthritis limited to one compartment of the knee, osteotomy or partial knee replacement is an option. Total knees are still the gold standard.

Yes: Small areas can be replaced arhroscpically. Larger areas can be replaced with partial knee replacements.

Cartilage transplant: It is possible to replace the meniscus cartilage and perform a stem cell paste graft for many patients who have been told they need a knee replacement. This is called a biologic knee replacement.

MAKOplasty: I have performed over 560 makoplasty procedures and it is very very safe . It is superior to all other techniques for precise installation of partial knee replacements. When performed by an experienced makoplasty surgeon, it allows us to balance the tension of your ligaments within a millimeter and make the implants track centrally so they last decades. Mine all go home the same day, little pain.