Skip to Main Content
Care calculator »  knee arthroscopy with cartilage removal »

Can you regrow cartilage in your knee?

Regrowth of damaged cartilage is a new area of research. It is possible to implant healthy cartilage cells into the bone beneath the damaged area of cartilage. In some cases, these cells are able to attach to the underlying bone and form new cartilage. 

Another new technique is “microfracturing,” in which small breaks are made on the surface of the bone, which promotes blood flow to that area. This increased blood flow can stimulate the growth of cartilage. 

These methods are still new and are being studied; they are not ideal for all patients, and their use has many limitations. The actual ability to regrow cartilage varies widely between patients and depends heavily on the nature of your injury and any other medical conditions you may have.

What is knee arthroscopy?

Is it worth having a knee arthroscopy?

How is knee arthroscopy used to treat knee cartilage damage?

Can you remove cartilage from the knee?

How long does it take to fully recover from arthroscopic knee surgery?

Can you walk right after arthroscopic knee surgery?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.