Knee Cartilage
Demo Author One
Cartilage repair options for lasting joint health
A practical overview of cartilage repair, injection therapy, rehabilitation planning, and the clinical evidence that guides joint preservation care.
Who Mytocel MSK is for
Am I a candidate for Mytocel MSK?
Who the regenerative micrograft injection suits, who needs it discussed first, and how suitability is decided on examination and imaging rather than symptoms.
Reviewed byProfessor Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDCartilage and joint preservation expertiseQuick answer
You may be a candidate for Mytocel MSK if you have earlier joint wear, thumb-base osteoarthritis or a soft-tissue problem you would rather treat without surgery, using your own cells. It is not limited to the knee. As wear advances, Professor Lee usually steps up to a fuller option such as ChondroFiller or NanoACi. An examination and imaging confirm the plan.
Suitability is about the joint, not a label
A lot of cartilage advice starts by putting a grade on your arthritis. Professor Lee is clear that this can mislead, for a simple reason: how a joint feels, what an X-ray shows and what an MRI shows do not always agree. A plan built on symptoms alone can send you down the wrong path. What matters is how the joint actually presents on examination and imaging.
Because Mytocel MSK uses your own cells, it is at its strongest for earlier wear, and it is not confined to the knee. Thumb-base osteoarthritis (rhizarthrosis), other small and large joints, and tendon or soft-tissue problems can all be treated with your own repair cells in a single session. As wear advances, a fuller approach usually serves you better, which is a positive step, not a dead end.
You are likely to be a good candidate if
- You have earlier, mild to moderate cartilage wear you would rather treat without surgery.
- You have thumb-base osteoarthritis (rhizarthrosis), or another small-joint problem worth protecting.
- You have a tendon or soft-tissue problem where your own repair cells can be put to work.
- You want to use your own cells in a single session, with no laboratory culture and no rejection risk.
- You are active and want to protect the joint and get back to what you enjoy, at any age.
We would talk it through first if
- You have an active infection in or around the joint.
- You have active autoimmune disease and are on immunosuppression.
- There is a tumour in or near the joint.
Been told your joint is too far gone for an injection? That is a conversation worth having on imaging. Where Mytocel MSK on its own is not enough, a fuller regenerative option often still is.
Which joints
Mytocel MSK is used across the knee, hip, shoulder, hand and ankle. The knee is the most common, because cartilage wear happens there most often, and the thumb base is another frequent site, where osteoarthritis (rhizarthrosis) is common.
How suitability is actually decided
No web page can tell you for certain whether Mytocel MSK is right for you. That decision rests on examination and imaging. If you have had an MRI in the last six months, bring it. If not, the simplest step is to book your scan and consultation together, so Professor Lee can review the imaging, examine the joint and plan treatment in one visit. Mytocel MSK is from £3,000, the same across joints, confirmed at your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mytocel MSK only for knees?
No. The knee is the most common joint treated, because cartilage wear happens there most often, but Mytocel MSK is used more widely. It is well suited to thumb-base osteoarthritis (rhizarthrosis), and it can be used for other small and large joints, tendons and soft tissue, because it works with your own repair cells rather than one specific joint.
Can you tell whether Mytocel MSK suits me from my symptoms?
No, and it would be wrong to try. How a joint feels, what an X-ray shows and what an MRI shows do not always agree, so the pattern of wear is established by the doctor on examination and imaging, not guessed from your symptoms. That is why an up-to-date scan matters before any plan is made.
My wear is more advanced. Does that rule Mytocel MSK out?
Not necessarily, but for more advanced wear Professor Lee usually recommends a fuller approach. NanoACi is his injection protocol that delivers the same micrografts alongside a ChondroFiller scaffold and PRF in a single session, and Mytocel MSK is the cell component inside it. What suits your joint is decided at assessment, on imaging.
Can Mytocel MSK treat my thumb?
Yes. Thumb-base osteoarthritis (rhizarthrosis) is one of the situations where Mytocel MSK is commonly used. As with any joint, suitability is confirmed on examination and imaging at your consultation, so the right option for your hand can be planned properly.
Do I need an MRI first?
A recent scan makes the assessment far more useful. If you have had an MRI in the last six months, bring it. If not, the simplest route is to book your scan and consultation together, so Professor Lee can review your imaging and plan treatment in one visit.
How do I find out if I am suitable?
Start with a free discovery call, then book a consultation so Professor Lee can examine the joint and review your imaging. Suitability is confirmed on examination and imaging, not on symptoms alone. See the Mytocel MSK treatment page for the full picture.
Still have more specific concerns?
Free Discovery CallOptions that our doctors may discuss include NanoACi, ChondroFiller, Mytocel MSK, joint replacement, established conservative care or surgery, depending on examination and imaging.
Find out if Mytocel MSK suits your joint
A free discovery call is the easiest first step. If you have not had a recent MRI, we can arrange your scan and consultation together, so Professor Lee can examine the joint, review your imaging and plan treatment in one visit.
London Cartilage Clinic
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