Articular Cartilage Lesions Pathomechanism, Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Possibilities for Conservative Treatment.

Osteoarthritis, which is the most common joint disorder, is one of major reasons for hospitalizations and one of the greatest burdens to health care systems. Osteoarthritis has a complex etiology, but lesions of articular cartilage are a major risk factor. These lesions are often encountered in young active people and usually remain asymptomatic for a long time. Depending on the extent of injury, chondral lesions can be managed conservatively or surgically. An important factor influencing the effectiveness of conservative treatment is the morphology and location of injury. Conservative treatment should be based on patient education and rehabilitation, and supported by pharmacotherapy.