EOAT (Elbow Osteoplasty with Augmented Transplantation) is the elbow counterpart to the KOAT technique. It is designed for focal cartilage and subchondral bone defects, most commonly affecting the capitellum or trochlea, where both the cartilage layer and the underlying bone require attention. By reshaping the bone first and augmenting the surface with cartilage, EOAT creates a stable, congruent elbow joint surface. Offered at London Cartilage Clinic for selected patients where standard cartilage repair alone would not address the underlying bone problem.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026
The capitellum and trochlea articulate with the radial head and ulna across a small, high-load surface. If the bone beneath the cartilage is irregular or has collapsed after osteochondritis dissecans or trauma, a cartilage graft alone will not sit on a stable foundation.
EOAT is often considered after a previous elbow cartilage procedure has failed because the bone contour was not corrected at the time of the original surgery.
EOAT is performed as a single-stage operation. The bone is reshaped first, then cartilage tissue is transplanted or augmented onto the prepared surface to create a smooth, congruent elbow joint surface.
EOAT is a specialist procedure offered to a selected group of elbow patients. Your surgeon will determine whether this combined approach is appropriate based on imaging, defect characteristics, and prior surgical history.
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At London Cartilage Clinic we follow a structured clinical framework across four areas of treatment. Before recommending a single procedure, we assess which combination of approaches gives you the best outcome.
Protect what you have. Slow degeneration and manage symptoms.
Fix specific damage. Torn tissue, unstable joints, structural problems.
Rebuild lost tissue. Biological treatments that stimulate new growth.
When other options are exhausted. Joint replacement as a last resort.
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EOAT refers to Elbow Osteoplasty with Augmented Transplantation. It is the elbow equivalent of the KOAT technique used in the knee, combining bone reshaping with cartilage augmentation in a single operation.
EOAT is considered for focal cartilage and subchondral bone defects in the elbow, most commonly the capitellum or trochlea, including osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in throwing athletes and post-traumatic cartilage damage. The technique is suited to defects where the bone contour itself is irregular and would not support a simple cartilage graft.
Standard cartilage procedures address the cartilage surface only. EOAT addresses the bone first, reshaping it to restore the normal articular contour, and then applies a cartilage augmentation onto the prepared surface. The combined approach is appropriate where the bone problem caused or contributed to the cartilage failure.
A sling or brace for two to four weeks with supervised early range-of-motion exercises to prevent stiffness, which is the principal risk in elbow recovery. Light activity returns from six to ten weeks, with sport-level loading from four to six months depending on defect size and progress.
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