Articular cartilage is the smooth, bearing surface covering all joints. When damaged, it usually fails to heal on its own—but with novel treatments, it can be fixed. That said, here are some of the ways that attempted repairs have gone wrong.

Microfracture—the surgical procedure during which small holes are made in joint bones—has resulted in successful temporary repairs for thousands of injured athletes. Unfortunately, the repaired tissues often wore out—leading to more joint pain.

The science of cartilage repair for joints is in full swing. There is a frenzy of activity around stem cells, growth factors, exosomes (small packets of growth factors), and all forms of stimulation therapies. And the matrices or patches that those factors are placed on vary widely. The bottom line is that no one factor does it all. Here is the latest update on what needs to go into the chicken soup of tissue repair to make you well.

Microfracture surgery fails at an alarming rate ending the careers of many pro athletes. Fortunately, there are alternatives.

Curvature of the leg bones don’t always need dramatic surgical operations. Replacing and repairing the missing shock absorbers makes more sense.

3D printing is one of today’s most talked-about technologies. But it still has a long way to go before it can transform orthopedic surgery.

Though usually self-healing in the young, a tongue-twisting condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) can mean more serious trouble for adolescents. Advances in knee surgery may move this injury, like many others, into the “curable” realm.

The Golden State Warriors, and star Steph Curry, may seem like superheroes—but they’re human beings with human parts. He’s what their knees endure during each game, and why (barring injury) they're able to handle it with such finesse.

The re-introduction of the collagen meniscus implant (CMI), unavailable in the U.S. for more than five years, will mean an improved quality of life for thousands of Americans.

Joint injury could lead to chronic and disabling arthritis with hope of replacement surgery.

If you have osteoarthritis, or if you think you may develop it later, you don’t have to just “suck up” the symptoms or change your life to manage the disorder. There is something that you can do about it, especially if you catch it early.