Who Is Suitable
for ChondroFiller®?

The ideal candidate is an adult with a focal cartilage defect identified on imaging, stable joint mechanics, realistic expectations about a regenerative timeline, and a desire to preserve the joint rather than replace it. ChondroFiller® works best where the defect is contained, the surrounding cartilage is reasonably healthy, and any underlying instability or malalignment has been addressed.

Yes. ChondroFiller® works on the cartilage at the load-bearing surfaces of the joint and coats whatever surface remains, including in advanced osteoarthritis where wear is across the whole joint. In these situations the emphasis of the treatment shifts toward protection of the joint surface and a meaningful delay before joint replacement is needed, rather than full regrowth of new cartilage. There is no upper age limit and no defect-size limit. We may also discuss combining the injection with the Arthrosamid® injection in a single session (Arthrosamid® works on the synovial lining of the joint, so the two treatments address different parts of the same joint), or, where the pattern of damage points to it, the Liquid Cartilage™ surgical regeneration pathway or a knee replacement conversation. Imaging at consultation lets us recommend the right combination for your joint.

Not for the injection. ChondroFiller® as an injection has no defect-size limit; the scaffold coats the cartilage surface across the whole joint in a single delivery and is appropriate whether the wear is a contained focal defect or diffuse across the joint surface. Where the pattern is a single contained focal defect in an otherwise healthy joint, the Liquid Cartilage™ pathway — a keyhole-surgery technique that regenerates native cartilage at the defect site — may also be discussed as a targeted alternative. Some cases are better addressed with MACI/ACI or osteochondral autograft transfer. The decision is made at consultation after imaging review.

Yes. Box pricing reflects this — most patients are treated with a single box for one defect, but two or three boxes can be used to address larger, multi-compartment or bilateral cases in a single appointment. See the ChondroFiller® cost guide for the box-tier breakdown.

Previous arthroscopy, microfracture, meniscal repair or ligament reconstruction does not rule out ChondroFiller® — in fact, ChondroFiller® is often considered after these procedures when symptoms persist due to residual cartilage damage. The picture depends on the current state of the joint, not the history alone. Bring imaging and operative reports to the consultation.

Yes. We routinely decline ChondroFiller® cases where the chance of meaningful regeneration is low, or where another treatment is the better answer. A clinic willing to say no is a clinic selecting for outcomes. If ChondroFiller® is not right, we will tell you what is — whether that is a different cartilage repair pathway, a long-acting Arthrosamid® injection for symptom relief, or a knee replacement conversation.