Young Athlete Saved By This Pioneering Cartilage Transplant At Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital In Dubai

Mohammed, a 24-year-old Indian expatriate, has successfully undergone a cartilage transplant at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital after sustaining a severe knee injury while playing football. The procedure was led by Dr. Karthikraj Kuberakani, an Orthopaedic Surgeon at the hospital. This innovative surgery has saved Mohammed from needing a total knee replacement.

Dr. Karthikraj explained that Mohammed had significant cartilage loss, which could have led to arthritis and possibly a knee replacement in the future. "The patient presented with significant cartilage loss, a condition that can be devastating, especially for someone so young and active. If left untreated it could have led to arthritis later in his life and the potential need for a knee replacement surgery in the future," he said.

The MEGA OATS (Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System) procedure was chosen as the best solution due to Mohammed's age and active lifestyle. This technique involves transplanting healthy cartilage and bone from a deceased donor to the patient's damaged knee area. Dr. Karthikraj noted, "Given his young age and active lifestyle, cartilage transplantation using the MEGA OATS procedure was the best course of action."

The MEGA OATS procedure is particularly suitable for younger patients who have suffered traumatic cartilage damage. It allows doctors to replace damaged cartilage with healthy tissue, reducing the risk of arthritis and providing a more durable solution. "The use of large plugs of healthy cartilage and bone from the donor ensures that the new cartilage can integrate well with the patient's existing bone structure, restoring the knee's function," Dr. Karthikraj elaborated.

Despite being minimally invasive, this surgery requires careful matching of donor cartilage to the patient's tissue, which is both time-consuming and critical for post-operative success. "Although this is a minimally invasive surgery, it requires careful matching of the donor cartilage to the patient's tissue, a process that is both time-consuming and critical for success of post- operative recuperation," Dr. Karthikraj added.

Following the successful surgery, Mohammed underwent around 20 physiotherapy sessions over two months to regain mobility in his knee. These sessions included protocol-based focused physio rehab and hydrotherapy.

Dr. Karthikraj commented on Mohammed's recovery journey: "The patient has made remarkable progress post-surgery. Eight weeks after the operation, the patient is walking without crutches, and an MRI scan confirms that the allograft is stable and healing well."

Mohammed expressed his gratitude for the exceptional care he received from Dr. Karthikraj and his team at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital. He said, "I'm incredibly grateful to Dr. Karthikraj and the entire team at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital for their care and expertise."

Currently on a steady path to full recovery, Mohammed is expected to gradually resume physical activities as his knee continues to heal and strengthen.