ChondroFiller pathway
CFI+ChondroFiller Injection + Arthrosamid
A two-layer strategy for a worn, irritable joint: regenerate the surface, then protect the joint for longer. Both delivered as injections, with no surgery. From £5,500.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026Non-surgical
Two in-clinic injections
Day case
No general anaesthetic
Any joint
Knee, hip, shoulder and more
From £5,500
Confirmed at consultation
How CFI+ works
Two injections, two jobs
- 1
CFI (ChondroFiller Injection) lays a fresh layer of natural collagen over the worn bone surfaces, cushioning the joint now and inviting your body to rebuild cartilage-like tissue over time.
- 2
Arthrosamid lines the inner wall of the joint, calming inflammation and slowing further degeneration, protecting the joint for longer.
Why two layers
Regenerate and protect, in one plan
A worn joint is often an irritated joint. Cartilage loss on the surface causes the ache; inflammation in the joint lining causes the swelling and the flares. CFI+ addresses both in a single visit, rather than treating one problem and leaving the other.
The ChondroFiller layer rebuilds and cushions the worn surface, while Arthrosamid lines the joint to calm it and protect it for longer. Acting while there is still cartilage to work with is the heart of our preservation-first approach, before a joint reaches bone on bone.
Candidate Profile
Who is CFI+ for?
CFI+ is for patients whose joint is both worn and reactive: cartilage loss on the surface combined with inflammation, swelling, or flares. Adding Arthrosamid addresses both problems in one visit. The right fit is confirmed at consultation with an imaging review.
Good candidates may include
- A worn joint that is also inflamed: surface cartilage loss combined with pain at rest, swelling, or regular flares
- Patients who want to address both regeneration and longer-term joint protection in a single visit
- Joints that flare and swell as well as ache from wear
- Not ready for or wanting to delay joint replacement
- Post-injury cartilage damage in a reactive, inflamed joint environment
- Any joint: knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, foot or hand
Where caution is needed
- A purely focal defect with no inflammation: CFI alone may be the simpler, more appropriate fit
- Mechanical locking or catching in the joint: may need the keyhole Liquid Cartilage™ pathway instead
- End-stage bone-on-bone with no cartilage remaining on both surfaces (see CFI++)
- Untreated joint instability or major malalignment
- Active infection (joint or systemic)
Find Your Pathway
ChondroFiller® Suitability Assessment
Eight short questions, around two minutes. Get a personal pathway from a ChondroFiller Injection to a keyhole procedure or a combination plan, with a clear next step.
- No age limit — bone on bone doesn't rule you out
- A clear, personal result you can bring to your consultation
Around 2 minutes · Guidance only — not a diagnosis.
The icing on the cake · Optional
Go further: add your own living cells
Your ChondroFiller injection can be elevated with MSC (Medicinal Signalling Cells), your body's own repair cells. In early studies this combination has shown even greater improvement than the scaffold alone. It is an entirely optional enhancement, chosen by patients who want to give their joint every possible advantage.
Harvest, on the day
Your own Medicinal Signalling Cells (MSC) are gently harvested during your appointment, from bone marrow, fat or platelet-rich fibrin. The source is chosen with you at consultation.
Load into the scaffold
The cells are placed inside the ChondroFiller collagen scaffold. The scaffold holds them exactly where they are needed, so they stay put rather than dispersing.
Stay and rebuild
Held in place, the cells add a biological signal that supports the cells doing the rebuilding, working alongside the scaffold to drive regeneration.
Why London Cartilage Clinic
Pioneers of ChondroFiller as an injection
A UK first
London Cartilage Clinic was the first UK clinic to offer ChondroFiller® as an injection.
Led by Professor Lee
Your treatment is led by Professor Paul Y.F. Lee, consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
Harley Street
Consultations take place at our clinic on Harley Street in central London.
Preservation first
We aim to preserve your own joint, and we say so honestly when replacement is the right answer.
Cost
From £5,500
CFI+ begins at the two-pack tier: one ChondroFiller injection and one Arthrosamid injection. The exact number of ChondroFiller packs your joint needs is confirmed at consultation following an imaging review; packs above the first are offered at a discounted rate.
If you do not have a recent MRI scan, one can be arranged from £450. The consultation and scan review are the right first step to confirm whether CFI+ is the appropriate pathway for your joint.
CFI+
Frequently asked questions
What is CFI+ (the combination)?
CFI+ is a two-layer injection strategy. A ChondroFiller injection (CFI) regenerates and cushions the worn bone surfaces, and an Arthrosamid injection lines the inner wall of the joint to calm inflammation and slow further degeneration. Both are delivered without surgery.
Why combine ChondroFiller with Arthrosamid?
The two injections do different jobs. ChondroFiller rebuilds the surface where cartilage has worn; Arthrosamid protects the joint for longer by lining it and reducing inflammation. For a joint that is both worn and irritable, addressing regeneration and protection together gives a more complete result than either alone.
How much does CFI+ cost?
CFI+ is from £5,500. It is a "from" price because the number of ChondroFiller packs your joint needs is confirmed at consultation; the combination begins at the two-pack tier (one ChondroFiller, one Arthrosamid), and packs above the first are discounted.
Is CFI+ surgery?
No. Both injections are delivered in clinic under image guidance, with no general anaesthetic and no incision. If your joint needs a keyhole approach instead, Professor Lee will discuss the Liquid Cartilage™ surgical pathway at your consultation.
Continue Exploring
Useful context for your decision
ChondroFiller® Injection (CFI)
The single-injection pathway when regeneration alone is enough. From £3,000.
Read about CFICFI++
For very worn joints: adds your own MSC for maximum regeneration. From £10,500.
Read about CFI++ChondroFiller vs Arthrosamid
How the two injections differ and why they combine well.
See the comparisonChondroFiller® is a registered trademark of Meidrix Biomedicals GmbH. Liquid Cartilage™ is a London Cartilage Clinic technique combining ChondroFiller® with medicinal signalling cells. London Cartilage Clinic is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meidrix Biomedicals.