Cartilage Can Heal – New Therapy Offers Hope for Osteoarthritis Patients

Can damaged cartilage in the knee actually grow back? A new treatment known as Knee Joint Distraction (KJD) offers fresh hope. As reported in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on April 13, 2025, this approach may not only slow the progression of osteoarthritis but potentially reverse it.

Developed in the Netherlands, KJD uses an external fixator called the KneeReviver© to gently pull the knee joint apart over six weeks. This temporary unloading of the joint activates the body’s natural healing processes, enabling cartilage tissue to regenerate.

Initial results are promising: five years after treatment, 81% of patients had not required a knee replacement. The method is minimally invasive, reversible, and relies on the body’s own biology – in contrast to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which can be problematic, especially for younger patients due to limited implant lifespan and the likelihood of revision surgeries.

For individuals under the age of 65, KJD presents a compelling alternative to full joint replacement. Experts such as Prof. Dr. Kaywan Izadpanah and Assoc. Prof. Mylène Jansen highlight the significance of this regenerative approach. The University Medical Center Utrecht and the University Hospital Freiburg also support this innovative therapy.

KJD may represent a turning point in osteoarthritis treatment – moving away from mechanical solutions and toward biological preservation. For patients, it means more than pain relief: it brings renewed hope for mobility and a life without prosthetics.