Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent adult stem cells that are present in multiple tissues, including umbilical cord, bone marrow and fat tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells can self-renew by dividing and can differentiate into multiple tissues including bone, cartilage, muscle and fat cells, and connective tissue.

Cartilage regeneration is a procedure that attempts to restore damaged cartilage by harnessing the body’s cells to regrow or replace lost cartilage. Most of these treatments can be done by arthroscopy (more commonly known as keyhole surgery), providing benefits of less pain, less bleeding, and faster recovery.

As cartilage does not show up on an X-ray, the loose body will only be visible if it consists of bone.

Most knee cartilage replacement surgeries are called OATs surgeries—either osteochondral autograft transplantation or osteochondral allograft transplantation surgeries. A third option is called autologous chondrocyte implantation. Osteochondral autograft transplantation uses cartilage from the patient.

The most common knee surgery performed on people over 65 is repair of torn meniscus cartilage. The procedure is costly, at up to $10,000 a patient — and it’s also usually a waste, if not outright harmful.

Two groups of people are at a significantly higher risk of potential rejection or loosening of their device and/or toxicity from wear particles. Those with any type of allergy. Even patients with allergies that are as simple as pollen or dander should avoid knee replacement surgery.

One of the most effective treatments is gel knee shots — also referred to as viscosupplementation, hyaluronic acid, or “rooster comb” injections.