Mosaicplasty Surgery: An Effective and Permanent Solution for Cartilage Damage

Cartilage damage is a common problem that reduces the quality of life, especially in load-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, ankle and elbow. Mosaicplasty surgery, one of the innovative methods used in the treatment of such damages, offers an effective solution to restore mobility by restoring joint surfaces.

What is Mosaicplasty Surgery?

Mosaicplasty is a surgical method that allows damaged cartilage areas to be repaired with the patient’s own healthy cartilage tissue. In this procedure, healthy cartilage and bone cylinders taken from a non-load-bearing area of the patient’s joint are transferred to the damaged area. This method allows the natural structure of the joint surface to be reconstructed with cartilage pieces laid in the form of a mosaic.

How is it applied?

• Evaluation and Planning: The damaged cartilage area is evaluated in detail with arthroscopic methods. The area to be repaired and the required amount of cartilage are determined.
• Cartilage Transfer: Healthy cartilage and bone tissue is taken from a non-load-bearing area of the joint.
• Repair of Damage: The cartilage cylinders are placed in the damaged area to create a smooth joint surface.
• Mosaic Structure: The transferred cartilage pieces are laid like a mosaic in the damaged area, mimicking the natural joint surface.

In which cases is it used?

Mosaicplasty surgery is generally suitable for the following conditions:

• Cartilage Damage: Cartilage loss due to trauma or small, localised cartilage lesions.
• Sports Injuries: Limited cartilage injuries, especially in active individuals.
• Young and Active Patients: It gives effective results in young patients with high cartilage regeneration capacity.

Advantages of Mosaicplasty Surgery

• Use of Natural Tissue: Since the patient’s own cartilage tissue is used, it is compatible with the immune system and there is no risk of rejection.
• Permanent Repair: Improves joint function by permanently repairing cartilage damage.
• Minimally Invasive Method: It provides faster recovery when performed with arthroscopic methods.
• High Success Rate: It offers long-term successful results especially in young and middle-aged patients.

Postoperative Process

• Rehabilitation Physical therapy is very important in the healing process. A careful treatment plan is applied for the proper placement and adaptation of the new cartilage tissue.
• Partial Load Period: During the first 6-8 weeks, the patient should not put too much load on the joint. The use of crutches is recommended during this period.
• Full Recovery: It may take approximately 6 months for the new cartilage tissue to fully settle and adapt.

In which cases is it not applied?

• Severe cartilage loss over large areas
• Advanced osteoarthritis
• Elderly patients and patients with joint deformation
• Conclusion and Expectations

Mosaicplasty surgery is an effective method to reduce pain, restore joint mobility and improve long-term joint health in limited cartilage damage. In the vast majority of patients, a significant increase in quality of life is observed after surgery.

Who is it suitable for?

Mosaicplasty is an ideal option for young and active individuals where cartilage damage is small and limited. It is highly successful in restoring old performance in athletes and individuals with active lifestyles.

Mosaicplasty surgery is an innovative method that offers a natural and permanent solution in the treatment of cartilage damage. This surgery, which can be applied with minimally invasive techniques, provides both a rapid healing process and improves joint function in the long term.