Knee Repair

(Warning - This document contains dated information.)

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right knee in September 2002, a quarter-sized pothole in the cartilage on the medial condyle of my right femur (knee end of my thigh bone). Without surgery to repair it, I would have ended up with bone on bone.

In April 2003, my surgeon arthroscopically harvested some cartilage cells from the intercondylar fossa (notch in the end of the head of my femur), and a lab grew these in culture. In August 2003, he performed chondrocyte autograft, stealing some of the periosteum (tough bone-covering membrane) from my tibia (large shin bone), suturing it over the hole, and then inserting cultured cartilage tissue into the patch.

My recovery is going really well, but being on crutches for 3 months just isn't much fun. I'm already back to driving, which has given me a lot more independence, but teaching physics and coaching Ultimate are still quite challenging. The really good news is that I can pick up my bike soon after I put down my crutches (mid November?)

This is a fairly bleeding edge procedure, but my surgeon has done a ton of them over the past 5 years, and hasn't had to cut back into anyone yet. He can't promise me anything, but he does think that after my recovery I can return to mountaineering. I may have to make a few modifications though, such as more frequent breaks during descents with a full pack. Unfortunately, I had to hang up my Ultimate cleats for good. This seems a rather small price to pay for the chance at a few more decades of summers in the Sierra.

Please e-mail comments regarding this web site to: schmed@transpac.com.

© 2003, Chris Schneider. All Rights Reserved World Wide.

Last updated 13 October 2003