Knee pain? Understand your options before making a decision.
Most patients have more options than they have been told. We offer 15+ treatments, from simple injections to advanced cartilage regeneration.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026Our Approach to Knee Treatment
Everything we do is aimed at relieving your knee pain and restoring your movement. How we get there depends on your situation. Our clinical approach covers four areas of treatment. Many of our treatments work across more than one area depending on your condition and how they are applied. Your consultation determines exactly which combination is right for you.
Relieve
Everything below has the same primary goal: relieving your knee pain and restoring your movement. The four approaches describe how we get there.
Preserve
Protect your knee joint, slow cartilage wear, and manage arthritis symptoms. From targeted injections to treatments that preserve what you have.
Repair
Fix specific damage. A torn meniscus, a damaged ligament, a kneecap problem. Surgical procedures that restore what is broken.
Regenerate
Rebuild damaged knee cartilage. Advanced biological treatments that stimulate your body to grow new tissue. Many of these are only available at London Cartilage Clinic.
Replace
When other options are exhausted. Knee replacement restores function, but only after we have explored every alternative.
Your Options
Explore Treatment Approaches
Preserve: Protect what you still have
Preserve your joint, your movement, and your quality of life. From immediate symptom management to treatments that slow degeneration and protect cartilage.
ChondroFiller
A collagen matrix that fills cartilage defects and supports the body in rebuilding. If you have a focal area of cartilage damage, this is a non-surgical regenerative option only available at London Cartilage Clinic in the UK.
Arthrosamid
If you have knee osteoarthritis and want lasting relief without repeated injections, Arthrosamid is a single-dose hydrogel that cushions the joint long-term.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells directly to the joint. If you have cartilage damage or joint degeneration and want a biological treatment that harnesses your body's own regenerative capacity.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
Steroid Injection
Rapid relief for acute pain and inflammation. Often used as a first step to manage a flare-up, reduce swelling, and create a window for rehabilitation or further assessment.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
Genicular Artery Embolisation
A minimally invasive procedure that targets the blood vessels feeding pain signals around the knee. Suited to patients with persistent knee pain from osteoarthritis who want to avoid or delay surgery.
Osteotomy
Bone realignment surgery to redistribute weight away from damaged areas.
Ready to explore preservation options?
Take Our AssessmentPreserve: Protect what you still have
Preserve your joint, your movement, and your quality of life. From immediate symptom management to treatments that slow degeneration and protect cartilage.
ChondroFiller
A collagen matrix that fills cartilage defects and supports the body in rebuilding. If you have a focal area of cartilage damage, this is a non-surgical regenerative option only available at London Cartilage Clinic in the UK.
Arthrosamid
If you have knee osteoarthritis and want lasting relief without repeated injections, Arthrosamid is a single-dose hydrogel that cushions the joint long-term.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells directly to the joint. If you have cartilage damage or joint degeneration and want a biological treatment that harnesses your body's own regenerative capacity.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
Steroid Injection
Rapid relief for acute pain and inflammation. Often used as a first step to manage a flare-up, reduce swelling, and create a window for rehabilitation or further assessment.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
Genicular Artery Embolisation
A minimally invasive procedure that targets the blood vessels feeding pain signals around the knee. Suited to patients with persistent knee pain from osteoarthritis who want to avoid or delay surgery.
Osteotomy
Bone realignment surgery to redistribute weight away from damaged areas.
Ready to explore preservation options?
Take Our AssessmentRepair: Fix specific injuries
You have a specific injury that can be fixed. These treatments restore what is broken. Time is critical for repair - the sooner you act, the more options you have.
ChondroFiller
A collagen matrix that fills cartilage defects and supports the body in rebuilding. If you have a focal area of cartilage damage, this is a non-surgical regenerative option only available at London Cartilage Clinic in the UK.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
Meniscus Repair
Saves and repairs the torn meniscus rather than removing it. Preserving your meniscus protects the joint surface from future arthritis and keeps the knee functioning naturally long-term.
ACL Repair (STARR)
Preserves your own ACL ligament rather than replacing it with a graft. If you have a recent ACL tear and want to keep your native tissue, this technique repairs and reinforces what you already have.
ACL Reconstruction
Rebuilds the ACL using a tendon graft when the ligament cannot be repaired directly. For patients with complete ACL tears, chronic instability, or failed previous repairs who need a stable knee to return to activity.
MPFL Repair
Stabilises a kneecap that dislocates or feels unstable. If your kneecap repeatedly slips out of place, this procedure reconstructs the ligament that holds it in position to prevent recurrence.
STACi
An advanced scaffold implanted into a damaged joint to regenerate cartilage over larger areas of damage. For patients with significant cartilage loss who are too young or active for replacement and want to rebuild rather than remove.
Sub-chondroplasty
Bone marrow lesion treatment to address subchondral bone pain and bone bruising in advanced arthritis.
BMAC
Concentrates stem cells from your own bone marrow and delivers them to the damaged area. Suited to patients with cartilage or tendon damage who want to support regeneration biologically.
Cartilage Repair (Surgical)
Surgical cartilage repair techniques to restore joint surface integrity.
Plica
Removal or treatment of irritated plica tissue causing knee pain.
Chondromalacia
Treatment for softening and breakdown of cartilage under the kneecap.
Had a sports injury?
Book a Consultation with Prof. LeeRegenerate: Rebuild damaged cartilage
Your cartilage is damaged but the joint can still be saved. These treatments stimulate your body to rebuild.
ChondroFiller
A collagen matrix that fills cartilage defects and supports the body in rebuilding. If you have a focal area of cartilage damage, this is a non-surgical regenerative option only available at London Cartilage Clinic in the UK.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells directly to the joint. If you have cartilage damage or joint degeneration and want a biological treatment that harnesses your body's own regenerative capacity.
STACi
An advanced scaffold implanted into a damaged joint to regenerate cartilage over larger areas of damage. For patients with significant cartilage loss who are too young or active for replacement and want to rebuild rather than remove.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
BMAC
Concentrates stem cells from your own bone marrow and delivers them to the damaged area. Suited to patients with cartilage or tendon damage who want to support regeneration biologically.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
Cartilage Repair (Surgical)
Surgical cartilage repair techniques to restore joint surface integrity.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
Plica
Removal or treatment of irritated plica tissue causing knee pain.
Chondromalacia
Treatment for softening and breakdown of cartilage under the kneecap.
ACi
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. A two-stage cartilage regeneration procedure using your own cells. London Cartilage Clinic now offers STACi, the single-stage next generation of ACi, available in any joint.
MACi
Matrix-Assisted Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. A scaffold-based two-stage cartilage procedure using your own cells. London Cartilage Clinic now offers STACi, the single-stage evolution of MACi, available in any joint.
Considering regeneration?
Book a Discovery Call to Discuss OptionsReplace: When preservation is no longer viable
When cartilage damage is too extensive for repair or regeneration, replacement restores function.
ACL Reconstruction
Rebuilds the ACL using a tendon graft when the ligament cannot be repaired directly. For patients with complete ACL tears, chronic instability, or failed previous repairs who need a stable knee to return to activity.
Meniscus Replacement
Donor meniscus transplant for patients who have had their meniscus removed and are experiencing accelerated joint wear. A rare, complex procedure requiring precise MRI matching.
OCA Replacement
Donor cartilage transplant for large defects.
OATS
Cartilage plug transplant from a non-weight-bearing area.
KOAT
Osteoplasty with cartilage augmentation technique.
Knee Replacement
Full or partial joint replacement when other options are exhausted.
Been told you need a knee replacement?
There may be options worth exploring first.
Need surgical expertise?
Book a Consultation with Prof. LeeSelf Assessment
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions to get a personalised starting point for your knee treatment.
How would you describe your knee situation?
Your Journey
What your journey can look like
Consultant-Led Assessment
Symptoms, imaging and goals reviewed in one structured appointment. We gather the full picture before recommending anything.
Personalised Treatment Plan
A clear route chosen from preservation, repair, regeneration or replacement options, matched to your diagnosis and goals.
Precision Delivery
Modern techniques and specialist equipment matched to your diagnosis. From ultrasound-guided injections to advanced surgical procedures.
Long-Term Knee Health
Follow-up guidance focused on durable function and quality of life. We monitor your progress and adapt the plan as needed.
Conditions
Common Knee Conditions
Understanding your condition is the first step. These pages explain what is happening in your joint and how it connects to treatment.
Cartilage Damage
Understand how cartilage wears down, what the stages of damage look like, and when treatment is needed.
Meniscus Tear
The meniscus acts as a shock absorber in the knee. Tears are common in sport and with age, and treatment options vary widely.
Kneecap & Patella
Pain at the front of the knee, kneecap instability, and patellofemoral problems. Understand what is happening and what can be done.