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 NanoACi is for
Am I a candidate for NanoACi?
Who the injectable cartilage protocol suits, who needs it discussed first, and how suitability is decided on imaging rather than symptoms.
Reviewed byProfessor Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDCartilage and joint preservation expertiseQuick answer
You may be a candidate for NanoACi if you have cartilage wear or damage you would rather treat without surgery, at any age. There is no grade of wear that rules it out on its own; even bone-on-bone joints are usually treated by pairing NanoACi with an Arthrosamid injection. An MRI and a consultation confirm the plan.
Suitability is about the joint, not a label
A lot of cartilage advice starts by putting a grade on your arthritis. NanoACi does not work that way, for a simple reason Professor Lee is clear about: symptoms, X-rays and MRI scans do not always agree, so a grade guessed from how a joint feels can send you down the wrong path. What matters is how the joint actually presents on imaging and examination.
Because NanoACi uses your own cells, scaffold and PRF, it is used across the range of wear rather than for one narrow window. There is no age limit and no grade that rules it out on its own. For more advanced, bone-on-bone joints it is usually offered together with an Arthrosamid injection, or alongside a joint replacement review, so you can weigh the honest options.
You are likely to be a good candidate if
- You have cartilage wear or damage you would rather treat without surgery.
- You have focal cartilage damage or chondromalacia in a joint worth protecting.
- You have been told you are bone-on-bone; NanoACi is usually paired with an Arthrosamid injection here, not ruled out.
- You want to avoid or delay a joint replacement.
- You are active and want to get back to what you enjoy after a joint injury, 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.
- Your ear cartilage is unsuitable as a donor site, which is checked at assessment.
Been told your only option is a joint replacement? Bone-on-bone wear does not put NanoACi out of reach. The only way to know your options is an imaging review.
How suitability is actually decided
No web page can tell you for certain whether NanoACi is right for you. That decision rests on your imaging. If you have had an MRI in the last six months, bring it. If not, the simplest step is to book your MRI and consultation together, so Professor Lee can review the scan, examine the joint and plan treatment in one visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old for NanoACi?
There is no age limit. NanoACi is judged on the joint and on your imaging, not on a birthday. Active people of any age are treated, and older patients are often good candidates too.
I have been told I am bone-on-bone. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. Advanced, bone-on-bone wear does not rule NanoACi out. In that situation Professor Lee will usually discuss NanoACi together with an Arthrosamid injection to cushion the joint, or a joint replacement review, and set out the honest trade-offs of each.
Can you tell my grade of arthritis from my symptoms?
No, and it would be wrong to try. Symptoms, X-rays and MRI scans do not always match, so the grade and pattern of wear are established by the doctor on imaging, not guessed from how a joint feels. That is why an up-to-date scan matters.
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 MRI and consultation together, so Professor Lee can review your imaging and plan treatment in one visit. This is the all-inclusive pathway.
Is NanoACi the same as ChondroFiller?
No. ChondroFiller is the scaffold alone. NanoACi adds your own cells and PRF alongside it. ChondroFiller on its own is the simpler, lower-cost option; NanoACi is the fuller protocol. See NanoACi vs ChondroFiller.
How do I find out if I am suitable?
Start with a free discovery call, then book a consultation so Professor Lee can review your scans. Suitability is confirmed on imaging and examination, not on symptoms alone. See the NanoACi treatment page.
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 NanoACi is right for you
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 review your imaging and plan treatment in one visit.
London Cartilage Clinic
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