Treatment of Knee Joint Osteoarthritis Without Surgery
Many people believe that cartilage degeneration is an irreversible process that inevitably leads to joint replacement surgery. Fortunately, thanks to modern regenerative medicine, there is now an effective alternative that can reduce pain and support cartilage regeneration without the need for a hospital stay or a long recovery period.
What is autologous cartilage regeneration, and how can it help you?
When the goal is to treat knee joint cartilage degeneration, traditional pain relievers often provide only a temporary solution and can quickly lose their effectiveness. In contrast, the advanced technology used at our clinic targets the root cause of the problem. During the procedure, we extract microscopic clusters of cells and growth factors from the patient’s own ear cartilage, which are then used to prepare a biocompatible micrograft solution. This tissue-specific mixture is then injected directly back into the worn joint.
Why do we harvest cartilage cells from the ear? The tissues in the head and neck region heal very quickly and have an excellent ability to regenerate. The cartilage in the outer ear also heals quickly after an injury, and we take advantage of this excellent healing potential when we transplant these cells into the worn-out knee joint.
Since we use only the patient’s own biological material for the treatment, the body accepts it perfectly, so the risk of rejection or an allergic reaction is virtually zero. By stimulating the remaining cells, the procedure effectively reduces internal inflammation while protecting and strengthening existing cartilage. Most patients report a significant and noticeable reduction in pain as early as the second week following the intervention, and the positive effects achieved can, ideally, last for more than three years with a single treatment.
Prof. Dr. Zsombor Lacza PhD
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatologist
Online appointment booking for Bokor Street:
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Control fee: 31 000 HUF, for 3 months after the initial examination, for the same complaint.
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If you can’t find an appointment for the week of your choice , please call our call-centre on+36 1 44 33 433 for further assistance. Our staff will be happy to help you make an appointment with the doctor of your choice or another specialist according to your complaint.
How is joint cartilage regeneration treatment performed at the BMM clinic?
Many patients are put off by the lengthy preparation involved in surgery and the subsequent recovery period, but this modern intervention does not require complicated or strenuous preliminary examinations. The single most important step is a consultation with orthopedic specialist Prof. Dr. Zsombor Lacza, who will thoroughly assess the condition of your joint and determine whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure based on the stage of your cartilage degeneration.
The treatment itself is a quick, 60-minute outpatient procedure performed at the BMM clinic on Bokor Street, following these precise steps:
- Sampling and Preparation: Using local anesthesia, we take a tiny cartilage sample from the ear—a completely painless procedure—which we immediately convert into a micrograft solution using a special, state-of-the-art device.
- Joint Treatment: If fluid has accumulated in the joint to be treated due to inflammation, we first gently aspirate it and then administer the prepared cartilage-regenerating solution via a targeted injection. We conclude the procedure by applying an aesthetic dressing.
What Can You Expect from Treatment in the Long Term? Realities and Medical Facts
In the market for cartilage regeneration procedures, many people are familiar with the fat-tissue-based Lipogems treatment. It is important to note that micrograft technology derived from ear cartilage is not only a more cost-effective alternative to this treatment, but because we use cartilage-specific cells from the outset, it is also capable of eliciting a more targeted biological response in the treatment area.
The Pace of Improvement and Long-Term Effects: During the first six months following the intervention , joint function improves steadily and the range of motion increases; thereafter, this condition stabilizes. It is medically important to clarify that the treatment itself does not reverse the extent of existing structural cartilage degeneration (the thickness of the cartilage layer visible on an X-ray)—worn cartilage does not regrow to its previous, youthful state.
The true power and clinical success of the treatment lie in the following:
Reducing Inflammation
The micrograft solution blocks chronic inflammatory processes within the joint.
Stopping Decay
It slows the continuous, progressive breakdown of cartilage, thereby gradually optimizing the surrounding tissue.
Pain-Free Everyday Life
Thanks to the inflammation-free environment, everyday pain disappears or is reduced to a minimum.
Although biological processes vary from person to person, and an exact timeframe cannot be guaranteed in advance, clinical experience shows that this procedure can help patients gain years before needing prosthetic surgery, allowing them to maintain an active quality of life.
Important Information After the Intervention
A major advantage of the treatment is that you can leave the clinic on your own two feet and won’t have to disrupt your normal routine; you simply need to follow a few basic guidelines at home. The site of the biopsy on your ear must be strictly protected from water for 10 days to allow the wound to heal. For the treated knee joint, rest is recommended during the first few days; however, gentle, low-impact movement is particularly beneficial. If you feel temporary tightness in the joint after treatment, there is no need to worry; this is a natural part of the regeneration process and can be relieved with simple ice application.
To ensure long-term success and maximum mobility, Professor Lacza will determine the specific details of your post-intervention rehabilitation and physiotherapy on a case-by-case basis, tailored to your individual condition and needs. To monitor your recovery, we will see you one week after the intervention for a mandatory follow-up examination.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cartilage Regeneration Procedure
For people with stage 2 or 3 knee joint osteoarthritis who are not yet ready for knee replacement surgery.
The total cost of the intervention is 800,000 Ft. This amount includes local anesthesia, tissue sampling, micrograft preparation using specialized technology, implantation into the joint, and a follow-up examination scheduled for one week later.
No, the intervention is performed entirely on an outpatient basis. There is no need for general anesthesia or a hospital stay; patients can go home immediately after the intervention.
If you take care of it for a week, it will heal quickly, and in a month, the tiny scar on the back of the ear will be barely visible.
Although biological regeneration begins immediately, most patients notice a significant reduction in pain and a noticeable improvement in range of motion by the end of the second week following treatment.
No special preparation or equipment is generally required for the examination. However, if you have a medical report (such as an X-ray or MRI scan) of the affected knee that is no more than 3 months old, please be sure to bring it with you. If you do not have a recent medical report, that is not a problem: we can perform an X-ray examination on-site at our clinic to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Don’t wait until your cartilage degeneration gets worse!
Take the first step toward a pain-free, active life today. Schedule a preliminary consultation with Professor Lacza and find out how autologous cartilage regeneration can help you!