Cartilage surgery is one of the most common spinal surgeries. Cartilage is a gelatinous substance called a disc, located between the vertebrae of the spine to prevent friction between the vertebrae, which enhances human movement flexibility. With age, this cartilage may become injured, worn, or herniated, causing pressure on the nerve that results in severe pain. In cases of severe injury, surgical intervention may be required, which is known as herniated disc surgery or discectomy.
Cartilage surgery tops the list of our services at Professor Dr. Yousry Anwar El-Halimi’s center – Professor of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery at Cairo University Faculty of Medicine – whose details we will explore in these lines, so stay with us until the end.
Overview of Herniated Disc Surgery
Herniated disc affects nerve damage which has a significant impact, so when other treatments fail, the doctor resorts to emergency surgery, aimed at repairing or removing the damaged cartilage partially or completely as required by the case. The operation is performed through many different techniques, which can be classified into:
Minimally Invasive
These are operations performed through minimal surgical intervention using endoscopy.
Highly Invasive
These are open surgical operations that require more extensive surgical intervention.
The type of surgical intervention is chosen according to the severity of the condition, the extent of damage symptoms it causes, and the location of the herniated disc the patient suffers from. The main goal of surgery is to reduce pressure on the nerves and thereby eliminate the pain and symptoms experienced.
Indications for Cartilage Surgery
Cartilage injuries that can be treated through cartilage surgery include the following:
- Articular cartilage defects.
- Chondral defects.
- Osteochondral defects.
- Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
- Avascular necrosis (AVN).
Types of Cartilage Surgery
There are many types of cartilage surgery; the doctor determines what the patient needs based on their condition and nature of injury. These types include:
Meniscal Surgery
Meniscal surgery is performed to treat cartilage tears when physical therapy fails to treat them. The surgical procedure is performed to restore knee joint strength and enhance movement flexibility. This surgery is considered a minimally invasive procedure performed using endoscopy, through small incisions on both sides of the affected knee joint. The endoscope and other surgical instruments are inserted to repair or remove the meniscus according to the extent of damage.
Lumbar Disc Surgery
Lumbar disc surgery is performed to treat nerve compression in the lower back spine, resulting in various pains that may extend to the legs. This is done through a small incision in the back above the affected area, allowing the doctor to reduce pressure on the spine by removing a small or large portion of the spinal bones according to the extent of damage and case requirements.
Knee Cartilage Surgery
This surgery is one of the minimally invasive cartilage surgeries performed using endoscopy. This surgery is performed to treat tears in the superficial knee cartilage, where the cartilage becomes unable to withstand impacts due to a large portion floating around the knee, leading to significant damage that may end in osteoporosis. The surgery involves smoothing cartilage edges or replacing it with an artificial one using different techniques according to severity of need.
Cartilage Surgery Methods
In cartilage surgery, the surgeon removes the cartilage that presses on nerves and causes troublesome symptoms for the patient, either completely or partially, using one of the following methods:
Traditional Excision
This is the oldest method of cartilage surgery, which is excision performed through open surgery under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes multiple incisions to access the damaged cartilage and can remove it completely or partially according to case requirements.
Endoscopic Excision
Endoscopic excision is one of the advanced cartilage surgery methods, classified under limited intervention. The surgeon performs the operation under local or general anesthesia through a small incision of approximately 1 or 2 inches, removing the damaged cartilage using specialized and precise instruments based on medical imaging technology. This technique helps reduce complications caused by open surgery.
Percutaneous Excision
Percutaneous cartilage excision is one of the least invasive cartilage surgery methods, where the surgeon removes damaged cartilage using a needle, cutting or eliminating those tissues through extremely precise instruments or laser. This helps the patient eliminate symptoms and complete recovery faster.
Despite the variety of these types, the appropriate type of cartilage surgery is determined by the treating physician after diagnosing the condition to understand the extent of damage.
Best Doctor for Cartilage Surgery
Professor Dr. Yousry Anwar El-Halimi – Professor of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery at Cairo University Faculty of Medicine – is considered the best doctor for various cartilage surgeries, due to:
- The doctor has extensive experience in precise neurosurgery and spine surgery, including cartilage surgery.
- The doctor has a medical center equipped with the highest level of modern techniques, tools, and equipment that ensure more effective surgical results.
- The doctor always strives to achieve the best possible medical care suitable for your condition.
- Provides accurate diagnosis of your condition so that the type of surgery and treatment suitable for your health needs is selected.
- Applies all precautionary sterilization procedures to maintain patient safety.
Finally, if you suffer from any cartilage problems, you can contact or book an appointment with
