Articular cartilage damage in the knee joint is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Most often, in focal form, it results from twisting injuries of the knee joint, and in generalized form, from osteoarthritis.

Traumatic cartilage damage is often accompanied by a fracture of the subchondral layer of bone
Cartilage damage occurs as a result of untreated injuries to the knee menisci and ligaments
Failure to treat localized cartilage damage may lead to generalized joint degeneration