London Cartilage Clinic IconLondon Cartilage Clinic66 Harley Street
Osteochondral allograft surgery

OCA replacement cost in the UK

Osteochondral allograft (OCA) replacement at London Cartilage Clinic. Donor cartilage and the underlying bone are implanted as a single unit, restoring joint surface in patients whose defect is too large to repair. Performed by Professor Paul Lee at an ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence. An autograft alternative (OATS) is available at a lower price for smaller defects.
  • ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
  • 5 / 5 across Doctify and Google
  • 173+ verified patient reviews
Free 15-minute discovery callSee the price
ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence5 / 5 across Doctify and Google173+ verified patient reviews

At a glance

How much does OCA replacement cost in the UK?

OCA replacement cost at LCC is £28,000, inclusive of theatre, the donor osteochondral tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist and a twelve-month follow-up programme. Private OCA replacement cost is not consistently published across the UK because the procedure is reserved for defects too large to repair or treat with autograft. OCA replacement at LCC is delivered by Professor Paul Lee at an ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence; OATS at £14,000 is the autograft alternative for smaller defects.

Inclusive price

£28,000

All-inclusive of donor tissue, theatre, consultant anaesthetist and twelve-month follow-up.

Last reviewed April 2026. Price in £ GBP, including all clinic, theatre and surgical fees, plus the donor osteochondral tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework and the consultant anaesthetist.
See what is included·Funding and insurance·Read the FAQs

OCA replacement cost in the UK explained

OCA replacement uses donor cartilage with its underlying bone (an osteochondral allograft) to replace a section of the joint surface. Donor tissue is sourced under UK human-tissue regulations, sized to the patient’s anatomy, and press-fit into a precisely-prepared defect. A typical case takes two to three hours of theatre time. The donor tissue, the regulatory framework, theatre, the consultant anaesthetist and the surgical disposables are all included.

At LCC the procedure is performed by Professor Paul Lee. The £28,000 price covers the surgeon’s time on the day, the consultant anaesthetist, theatre time, the donor tissue, and a twelve-month outcome programme. Where the defect is small enough that autograft is realistic, OATS is the cheaper alternative at £14,000 (worth discussing if the defect is amenable).

What is included in the price

Included in the price

  • Pre-operative consultation with Professor Lee (60 minutes)
  • Pre-admission anaesthetic review
  • Theatre fee, surgical disposables and anaesthetic agents
  • The donor osteochondral tissue
  • Human-tissue regulatory framework
  • Operating surgeon’s fee
  • Consultant anaesthetist’s fee
  • Cryotherapy and on-the-day medications
  • Bracing and walking aid where required
  • Two post-operative consultations (typically week 2 and week 6)
  • Three, six and twelve-month outcome reviews
  • Direct line to the surgical team for post-operative concerns

Not included, quoted separately

  • MRI imaging at £450 where not already available
  • Pre-operative bloods if not already available
  • Onward physiotherapy, quoted separately by your physiotherapist
  • Travel and accommodation for international patients

Why OCA replacement at LCC

  • ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence

    LCC is recognised by the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society as a Teaching Centre of Excellence. Allograft replacement is one of several techniques in the cartilage programme; we use it where it is the right answer.

  • Honest about alternatives

    OCA is the right operation where the defect is too large for repair and too large for autograft. Where autograft (OATS at £14,000) is realistic, we will tell you and we will offer it instead. Where preservation (cartilage repair, ChondroFiller, STACi) is realistic, we will offer that.

  • A proper twelve-month follow-up

    Allograft integration takes time and is checked on imaging at twelve months. The follow-up programme reflects that, with three, six and twelve-month reviews included in the price.

  • The surgeon you see is the surgeon who operates

    Pre-operative consultation, surgery and post-operative reviews are with Professor Lee. There is no transfer to a registrar or to another consultant.
Read about Professor LeeHow OCA replacement worksOATS, the autograft alternativeCartilage replacement overview

Your OCA replacement journey

  1. 1

    Discovery call (free, 15 minutes)

    A clinical coordinator confirms whether OCA looks like the right treatment to investigate, books the consultation if so, and answers cost questions.
  2. 2

    Consultation with Professor Lee (£350, 60 minutes)

    Imaging review, examination, and a treatment plan in writing. We confirm whether OCA is the right operation or whether OATS or repair is more appropriate.
  3. 3

    Pre-operative preparation

    MRI for tissue sizing, donor-tissue ordering, bloods, anaesthetic review and consent. Typically four to six weeks before surgery.
  4. 4

    Day of surgery

    Admission at our partner hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. Surgery takes two to three hours. Most patients stay overnight.
  5. 5

    First six weeks

    Brace and protected weight-bearing while the donor tissue integrates. Direct line to the surgical team for any concerns.
  6. 6

    Weeks 6 to 16

    Physiotherapy with your chosen physiotherapist, progressive return to function. Two follow-up consultations included with us.
  7. 7

    Three, six and twelve-month reviews

    Outcome assessment, MRI to confirm graft integration, and confirmation of return to higher-impact activity.

Funding, insurance and payment

Self-pay

£28,000 settled by bank transfer or card before surgery.

We can discuss finance options on request rather than promoting a specific finance partner.

Private medical insurance

London Cartilage Clinic is a private-pay practice and does not work with UK insurance panels. Allograft cartilage procedures are not routinely covered by UK insurers.

We can provide an itemised invoice for you to submit to your insurer if you wish to claim, but the agreement is between you and your insurer.

International patients

We coordinate consultation, imaging, surgery and follow-up into a focused visit for international patients. The donor-tissue lead time means surgery is typically scheduled four to six weeks after consultation.

Outcomes after OCA replacement

OCA replacement is a salvage operation for joints with defects too large for repair or autograft. Most patients are walking unaided by week eight and return to recreational activity between six and nine months. Higher-impact activity is confirmed at the twelve-month review, when graft integration is checked on imaging.

Outcomes feed into the published ICRS-aligned outcome database. Long-term graft survival on a well-matched OCA is typically ten to fifteen years before any conversation about revision.

Patient stories

I had been managing a knee defect for ten years before another surgeon told me a knee replacement was the only option. Professor Lee offered OCA. I have my own knee, twelve months on, walking pain-free.
Verified patient, Doctify

Frequently asked questions

How much does OCA replacement cost in the UK?

OCA replacement at LCC is £28,000 all-inclusive. That covers theatre, the donor tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist, the surgeon’s time, and a twelve-month follow-up programme.

How does OCA differ from OATS?

OCA uses donor (allograft) tissue. OATS uses the patient’s own (autograft) tissue harvested from a non-weight-bearing area of the same joint. OATS is appropriate for smaller defects and is cheaper at £14,000. OCA handles larger defects where there is not enough autograft tissue to harvest.

When is OCA the right operation?

OCA is appropriate where the cartilage defect is too large for repair (microfracture, AMIC, ChondroFiller, STACi) and too large for autograft (OATS), but the rest of the joint is still salvageable. Where preservation is realistic, that is the conversation first.

Is OCA the same thing as cartilage replacement?

OCA is the most common form of cartilage replacement we deliver; the terms are often used interchangeably. We maintain a separate cartilage replacement page to answer patients searching for that broader term, but the procedure and the price are the same.

Can I claim OCA replacement on private medical insurance?

LCC is a private-pay practice and does not contract with UK PMI panels. OCA is not routinely covered by UK insurers. We can provide an itemised invoice if you wish to claim independently.

Does the price include the donor tissue and the anaesthetist?

Yes. The £28,000 figure includes the donor osteochondral tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist’s fee, theatre time, and the surgeon’s time.

What happens if there is a complication after surgery?

The two routine post-operative consultations and the three, six and twelve-month outcome reviews are included. If a complication needs additional clinical contact within twelve months, the post-operative team is available without further charge for assessment.

How long is recovery, and is physiotherapy included?

Most patients are walking unaided by week eight and return to recreational activity between six and nine months. Higher-impact activity is confirmed at the twelve-month review. Physiotherapy is not included; we share the post-operative programme with your physiotherapist.

Why is OCA replacement at LCC priced where it is?

The £28,000 figure reflects theatre time for a complex allograft procedure, the donor tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist, and a twelve-month follow-up programme.

Is the surgeon I see at consultation the same one who will operate?

Yes. Professor Paul Lee is your consulting surgeon, your operating surgeon, and your reviewing surgeon throughout follow-up.

Where will the surgery happen?

The consultation is at 66 Harley Street. The surgery itself is performed at our partner private hospital on Weymouth Street, central London.

Ready to talk

Two paths from here

For when you want to talk first, the discovery call costs nothing. For when you have decided you want to be assessed, book a consultation with the operating surgeon. Either way you can learn how the procedure works on the OCA replacement page.

Free 15-minute discovery callBook a consultation, £350
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