When should I see a surgeon about cartilage damage in my knee?

See someone within days if

• The knee is locked and you cannot fully straighten it
• It swelled up within a few hours of a twist, fall or tackle, which often means bleeding inside the joint
• You felt or heard a pop and the knee now feels unstable
• A piece seems to move around inside the joint
• The knee is hot, red and very painful with a fever, which needs urgent same-day care to rule out infection

Book a routine assessment if

• The knee swells after sport or long walks and it keeps happening
• A deep ache has lasted more than four to six weeks despite rest and sensible exercise
• Stairs, squatting or kneeling are becoming steadily harder
• You have been told about cartilage damage on an MRI and want to know what it means for your activities
• You are a young athlete with knee pain that is stopping training

Why timing matters

In younger patients, a fresh fragment of cartilage and bone can sometimes be fixed back in place, but only if it is found before it wears or shrinks. A loose flap can catch and tear more healthy cartilage. Equally, many defects are stable and do well without surgery, and seeing a surgeon does not mean you will be offered an operation. The aim is to match the treatment to your knee.

What happens at Aman Hospital

Dr. Gelber takes a history of how the problem started, examines the knee, its stability and the leg alignment, and reviews or arranges X-rays and MRI. You leave with a clear explanation and a plan, which is often physiotherapy first.