Why Is the Ankle Joint Important?

Your ankle joint plays a critical role in walking, running, and balance. It connects your leg to your foot and allows for smooth movement and shock absorption with every step.

When cartilage in the ankle is damaged—from injury, wear-and-tear, or conditions like osteochondritis dissecans—it can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility, making daily activities harder.

What Is Ankle Cartilage Restoration?

Ankle cartilage restoration is a minimally invasive procedure used to repair or regenerate the smooth cartilage surface inside your ankle joint. The goal is to reduce pain, restore motion, and prevent further joint damage—without needing a joint replacement.

How Is the Procedure Done?

Thanks to Arthrex® technology, surgeons can now restore ankle cartilage using the latest biologic tools and minimally invasive techniques.

Common Steps:

1. Arthroscopic Access: Tiny incisions are made around the ankle; a small camera is inserted to view the joint.

2. Lesion Preparation: Damaged cartilage is gently removed to create a clean, stable area.

3. Bone Marrow Stimulation: Surgeons use a technique like microfracture to trigger natural healing.

4. BioCartilage® Application:

   Arthrex’s BioCartilage® is a dehydrated cartilage matrix that is mixed with your own bone marrow or biologics (like PRP).

   This mixture is applied directly to the damaged area to provide a scaffold for new cartilage growth.

Why BioCartilage®?

Arthrex’s BioCartilage Kit:

• Mimics native cartilage structure

• Works with your body’s healing cells

• Enhances cartilage repair after microfracture

• Easily applied through minimally invasive arthroscopy

It’s designed to bridge the gap between basic microfracture and complex cell therapy—making it an ideal choice for many patients.

 Benefits of Advanced Arthrex Technology

• Smaller incisions = quicker recovery and less pain

• Precision instruments for targeted treatment

• Use of your own healing cells = natural regeneration

Outpatient surgery = home the same day