Diagnosis
Diagnosing a cartilage injury requires developing a complete picture of the injury, as well as the patient’s medical history and lifestyle. There are many diagnostic tools and patient questions that can provide you with the insight that you need; some are recommended here.
Patient History
- How old is the patient?
- How long have they been experiencing pain in their knee?
- What started the pain?
- Does their knee hurt, catch, lock, give way or swell?
- When does their knee hurt (climbing stairs, on level ground, with weight-bearing activity, at rest)?
- Where is the pain (proximal, distal, medial)?
- What surgeries have been performed and when?
- When were they performed?
- What rehabilitation program was prescribed, and was it followed?
- What was the response to the surgery and rehabilitation?
Knee Exam
- What is the patient’s range of motion (ROM)?
- Is there any joint line tenderness?
- What is the stability of the joint?
- What is the patient’s Q-angle, alignment and gait?
Arthroscopic Assessment
- Where is the defect located?
- What is the size of the defect?
- What other co-morbid conditions need to be treated?
- Is there boney involvement?
- Is the defect uncontained?
Patient’s Post-surgical Goals
- Can they take the necessary recuperation time?
- Are they committed to the full rehabilitation period and program?
- What level of activity would they like to achieve?
- Is a return to sports important?
Medical Records
- Most recent surgical notes
- Arthroscopic photos
- Radiographs
- MRI
Contact CARTICEL
For reimbursement questions, contact a Carticel Care® Coordinator at 800-453-6948, Option #2.
For all other questions, contact a Genzyme representative at 800-453-6948, Option #1.