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
- Arthroscopy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/arthroscopy/MY00130/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Meniscal Transplants(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00381
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Total Joint Replacement(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00233
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00484
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00189
- Glucosamine Supplements: Can They Rebuild Cartilage?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/glucosamine/AN00619/METHOD=print
- Articular Cartilage Injuries(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.sportsmed.org/secure/reveal/admin/uploads/documents/ST%20Articular%20Cartilage%2008.pdf
- Chondromalacia Patella(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/chondromalacia-patella/DS00777/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Chondrosarcoma(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site747/mainpageS747P0.html
- Chondrosarcoma- Head and Neck(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2164/mainpageS2164P0.html
- Costochondritis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/costochondritis/DS00626/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Enchondroma(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00085
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Hallux Rigidus(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/hallux-rigidus.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/hallux-rigidus.htm
- Hip Labral Tear(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hip-labral-tear/DS00920/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/488.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/488.printerview.html
- Torn Meniscus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/torn-meniscus/DS00932/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- What Is Relapsing Polychondritis?(Polychondritis Educational Society) - http://www.polychondritis.com/RP/Polychondritis.html
- What's Cauliflower Ear?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/cauliflower_ear.html
- About Joint Arthroscopy(Arthritis Foundation) - Requires media player - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/surgerycenter/surgerycenterflash/arthroscopy.html
- Anatomy of Relapsing Polychondritis(Polychondritis Educational Society) - http://www.polychondritis.com/Anatomy/Anatomy.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cartilage Diseases
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cartilage+Diseases%22
- Creating a More Natural Engineered Cartilage(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/natural-engineered-cartilage.php
- New Techniques to Restore Articular Cartilage(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00422
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Wnt signaling in cartilage development and degeneration. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18682032&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Clinical and genetic distinction of Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia and cartilage-hair... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18627050&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Autologous chondrocyte implantation and anteromedialization in the treatment of patellofemoral... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18602561&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cartilage Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=cartilage+diseases[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
- American College of Rheumatology - http://www.rheumatology.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Polychondritis Educational Society - http://www.polychondritis.com/
- Pectus Carinatum(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1686/mainpageS1686P0.html
- Pectus Excavatum(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2052/mainpageS2052P0.html
- Connective Tissue Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/connectivetissuedisorders.html
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/elbowinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Knee Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kneeinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cartilage Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/