53-Year-Old Patient Walks Free of Pain After Advanced Knee Cartilage Transplant at MGM Malar

Chennai: MGM Healthcare Malar, Adyar has announced a major milestone in advanced orthopaedic care with the successful long-term outcome of a fifth-generation Autograft Cartilage Tissue Transplant. The innovative daycare arthroscopic procedure allows patients to walk immediately after surgery and significantly reduces the need for total knee replacement.

Unlike earlier approaches that required multiple surgeries or external cartilage culturing, this single-stage technique uses healthy cartilage harvested from the patient’s own joint to repair damaged areas. It has proven especially effective for conditions such as focal chondral defects, osteochondral lesions, early osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia patella—where untreated cartilage damage often leads to severe degeneration and eventual joint replacement.

MGM Malar has been pioneering this transplant method since 2018, steadily refining it through continuous research. Patients treated with this approach have consistently reported long-term healing, high satisfaction, and preservation of their natural joints—without implants, crutches, or intensive physiotherapy.

Dr. Nandkumar Sundaram, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedics, explained:

“When cartilage is damaged due to injury, wear-and-tear, or arthritis, specialised techniques are needed to restore smooth joint movement. Autograft cartilage tissue transplant is highly effective. The procedure involves graft preparation, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application, and fibrin glue fixation—all completed in a single, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. Patients can walk immediately after surgery without braces or supports, with reduced pain, improved mobility, and prevention of arthritis progression.”

One of the most notable success stories is that of a 53-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, currently working in Madhya Pradesh. He had suffered from severe knee pain and restricted mobility for over 15 years due to osteoarthritis. At risk of requiring a total knee replacement, he underwent the autograft cartilage transplant in 2018. Six years later, he remains completely symptom-free, underscoring the long-term effectiveness of the technique.

Dr. Sundaram stressed that patient selection is key to success:

“When appropriately chosen, patients experience significant pain relief, improved mobility, and prolonged joint lifespan, effectively delaying the need for total knee replacement.”

Venugopal Bhat, Chief Operating Officer, MGM Healthcare Malar, Adyar, added:

“This long-term success highlights our commitment to minimally invasive innovation that enhances patients’ quality of life.”