[Edaily Reporter Kim Jinsoo ] “Knee cartilage lacks blood vessels, so once damaged, it is difficult to recover naturally. Rather than enduring the pain, it is important to accurately diagnose the extent of the damage and choose a treatment that preserves as much of your remaining joint as possible.”

Min Kyung-jun, Director of Newmin Hospital, stated on the 6th, “The number of patients complaining of knee pain is increasing, but not everyone with pain needs joint replacement surgery. It is important to choose the appropriate treatment based on the patient’s condition.”

Dr. Min is an orthopedic surgeon and serves as a full member of major orthopedic societies, including the Korean Orthopaedic Association and the Korean Knee Society. Drawing on his extensive clinical experience, he leads efforts to restore joint health by proposing precise treatment strategies tailored to each patient’s individual joint condition.

As South Korea enters a super-aged society and the number of people participating in sports and leisure activities continues to rise, the number of patients visiting hospitals for knee pain is steadily increasing. According to the National Health Insurance Service, more than 3 million people received treatment for knee osteoarthritis annually as of 2024.

Dr. Min said, “In my practice, I’ve observed that when patients experience knee pain, they begin to worry about how much longer they’ll be able to use their own joints. At the same time, they feel anxious about joint replacement surgery, but surgery isn’t always necessary—preserving one’s own joints is paramount.”

He emphasized, “The paradigm of orthopedic treatment has been changing significantly recently. Whereas the focus used to be on reducing pain, the goal of treatment has now shifted to helping patients use their own joints for as long as possible.”

The current trend in treatment is to prioritize joint-preserving therapies by comprehensively considering factors such as the patient’s age, activity level, and the extent and location of cartilage defects. Since each patient’s condition is unique, a personalized treatment strategy is more important than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Dr. Min explained, “The most critical factor in cartilage treatment is the preservation of the ‘subchondral bone.’ The subchondral bone, located beneath the cartilage, is a vital structure that supports the joint; minimizing damage to this area broadens future treatment options and helps maintain long-term joint function.”

He emphasized, “Although microdrilling was widely performed in the past, it has the limitation that it induces the formation of fibrocartilage by creating small holes in the subchondral bone to attract bone marrow cells,” adding, “For this reason, treatments that preserve the subchondral bone as much as possible are now being given greater priority.”

While the original knee cartilage consists of “hyaline cartilage,” the cartilage regenerated through microdrilling or treatments that incorporate microdrilling is “fibrocartilage.” Hyaline cartilage is classified as higher-quality cartilage compared to fibrocartilage. Therefore, for patients with localized cartilage defects, it is more important to treat them while preserving the joint, and it is necessary to select the appropriate treatment based on the patient’s condition.

Amid this shift in the treatment paradigm, Dr. Min is actively utilizing BioSolution’s cell therapy product, “CartiLife,” as a new option for joint-preserving treatment.

He explained, “CartiLife is a cell therapy that uses the patient’s own costal cartilage cells. Its key feature is that treatment can be performed without microdrilling, thereby preserving as much subchondral bone as possible.” He added, “It is being utilized as a treatment option that offers the potential for restoration in the form of hyaline cartilage—similar to articular cartilage—rather than simply filling the damaged area.”

Dr. Min continued, “The ultimate goal of cartilage treatment is not simply to reduce pain, but to restore normal joint function as much as possible. When appropriate for the patient’s condition, considering a treatment method that offers the potential for superhyaline cartilage regeneration can contribute to long-term joint health.”

He also emphasized the importance of early diagnosis for patients experiencing knee pain, noting that in the case of knee osteoarthritis, the earlier the diagnosis, the more treatment options are available to preserve the joint.

Dr. Min stated, “If you experience recurring pain when going up or down stairs, or if your knee is swollen and feels like it’s catching, you should suspect cartilage damage and not dismiss knee pain as a simple sign of aging. As cartilage damage progresses, the scope of treatment may expand, so it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have symptoms.”

Finally, he said, “As mentioned earlier, recent advances in orthopedic treatment are focused on helping patients preserve their natural joints for as long as possible, and we are delaying joint replacement surgery as much as possible. Accurately assessing each patient’s individual condition and selecting the most appropriate treatment is key to achieving good outcomes.”