Ankle Cartilage Injury

Discomfort occurs while walking, running, or moving the ankle joint, particularly when bearing weight or during push-off movements.

The ankle becomes rigid and restricted, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity.

The ankle joint develops noticeable swelling that may worsen with activity and improve with rest.

Irregular cartilage surfaces can cause audible or noticeable mechanical sensations during movement.

The ankle’s movement capacity becomes limited, affecting standard walking patterns.

The ankle feels unsteady or gives way, mainly when walking on uneven surfaces.

Damage is limited to the cartilage layer without affecting the underlying bone. Injuries range from small cracks to complete cartilage loss, exposing the bone beneath. These often result from direct trauma and can worsen without treatment.

Both cartilage and the underlying bone are affected. This may lead to a cartilage fragment and bone becoming partially or fully detached. Severe sprains or high-impact trauma are common causes of these injuries, which can result in loose fragments within the joint.

Cartilage gradually thins and deteriorates, often affecting multiple joint areas. Age, previous injuries, and mechanical stress contribute to this progressive wear.

• Activity Modification: Reducing high-impact activities relieves joint stress and allows recovery. Low-impact alternatives such as swimming or cycling help maintain fitness without aggravating symptoms.
• Physical Therapy: Structured exercise programmes focus on strengthening ankle muscles and improving joint stability. Rehabilitation focuses on restoring movement while minimising further cartilage damage.
• Bracing and Support: External supports help stabilise the ankle during daily activities. These devices reduce stress on damaged cartilage areas while allowing controlled movement.

• Cartilage Repair: Small, isolated defects may be treated with microfracture or drilling techniques, which stimulate repair tissue formation by creating small holes in the bone beneath the damaged cartilage.
• Osteochondral Grafting: This technique replaces damaged cartilage and bone with healthy tissue from a less weight-bearing area or a donor. The procedure restores the joint surface in cases of more profound osteochondral injuries.
• Cartilage Regeneration: Biological treatments use tissue engineering techniques to grow new cartilage. This involves harvesting and reimplanting the patient’s cartilage cells or using synthetic scaffolds.