Joint preservation is generally performed for people in the late stages of osteoarthritis after other options have failed. The goal of preservation is to reduce inflammation, prevent injury, and preserve cartilage.

Injections

Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid can reduce inflammation in the lining of the joints. These treatments can work in most joints.

Cartilage transplant

In this technique, Dr Moonda will transplant or use a cartilage replacement and place it in the damaged area. He may also stimulate the bone in your joint to increase cartilage growth.

Partial replacement

Dr Moonda uses this technique when there is damage to smaller areas of the joint. The benefit of this technique is that Dr Moonda can preserve most of the bone by using smaller artificial parts to replace particular parts of the joint.

After surgery, you'll wake up in a recovery room. You will generally stay in hospital for 1 to 2 days and longer if needed.

The staff will give you pain medication and monitor your vital signs. With minimally invasive surgery, symptom relief is often immediate, and patients can usually return home the next day. Complete recovery may be achieved within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the success of the procedure. The day after surgery, a physical therapist will help you get up and take a few steps. Some people choose to go to a rehabilitation facility or a skilled nursing facility to receive inpatient services and additional care.

It’s important to prepare for your recovery, so you can move around easier. For example, you might consider arranging for someone to drive you around and take care of you during your recovery.