Nontraditional modification to articular cartilage.

Biomechanical imbalance, trauma, and age-related degeneration often result in chondral lesions, which may lead to overt osteoarthritis over time. Such cartilage pathology is frequently accompanied by persistent pain and loss of normal joint function. As a result, patients who suffer from biologically active articular cartilage lesions are often unable to function in both high level activities and exhibit compromised activities of daily living. The limited potential for self-regeneration of hyaline cartilage has led to the emergence of new technologies to solve this difficult clinical problem. Treatment of arthritis and chondral lesions includes alleviation of pain and return of function through pharmacologic intervention and/or attempts at cartilage reparative, restorative and reconstructive options.