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- Services and providers for Cartilage Disorders in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Cartilage Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Cartilage Disorders
Cartilage is the tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. It also gives shape and support to other parts of your body, such as your ears, nose and windpipe. Healthy cartilage helps you move by allowing your bones to glide over each other. It also protects bones by preventing them from rubbing against each other.
Injured, inflamed or damaged cartilage can cause symptoms such as pain and limited movement. It can also lead to joint damage and deformity. Causes of cartilage problems include
- Tears and injuries, such as sports injuries
- Genetic factors
- Other disorders, such as some types of arthritis
Osteoarthritis results from breakdown of cartilage.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Latest News
- Tears in Knee Cartilage Common in Older Adults(09/10/2008, Reuters Health)
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Treatment
- Arthroscopy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Meniscal Transplants(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Total Joint Replacement(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Also available in Spanish
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Alternative Therapy
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Glucosamine Supplements: Can They Rebuild Cartilage?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Specific Conditions
- Articular Cartilage Injuries(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF
- Chondromalacia Patella(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Chondrosarcoma(Children's Hospital Boston)
- Chondrosarcoma- Head and Neck(Children's Hospital Boston)
- Costochondritis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Enchondroma(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Hallux Rigidus(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
Also available in Spanish
- Hip Labral Tear(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
- Torn Meniscus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What Is Relapsing Polychondritis?(Polychondritis Educational Society)
- What's Cauliflower Ear?(Nemours Foundation)
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Tutorials
- About Joint Arthroscopy(Arthritis Foundation) - Requires media player
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Anatomy of Relapsing Polychondritis(Polychondritis Educational Society)
- Joint Atlas(Arthritis Foundation)
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Research
- Creating a More Natural Engineered Cartilage(Arthritis Foundation)
- New Techniques to Restore Articular Cartilage(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Autologous chondrocyte implantation and anteromedialization in the treatment of patellofemoral...
- Article: Idiopathic tracheal stenosis: a clinicopathologic study of 63 cases and...
- Article: Interpositional arthroplasty with extensor digitorum brevis tendon in Freiberg's disease:...
- Cartilage Disorders -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Directories
- American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology)
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Organizations
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American College of Rheumatology
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also available in Spanish
- Polychondritis Educational Society
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Children
- Pectus Carinatum(Children's Hospital Boston)
- Pectus Excavatum(Children's Hospital Boston)
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Date last updated: 16 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 11 June 2008 |