The CDC has estimated that 58.5 million U.S. adults have arthritis, with the number projected to increase to 78 million by 2040. Although end-stage arthritis of the hip and knee is generally treated with total joint replacement, experts say if caught early enough, joint preservation may be an alternative treatment.

One of the most integral parts of joint preservation is the preservation and restoration of cartilage, according to Ernest L. Sink, MD, chief of the Hip Preservation Service at HSS. 

“Maintaining cartilage is a main reason we are doing these procedures,” Dr. Sink said. “We are trying to conservatively prevent cartilage-advanced degeneration by diagnosing these deformities when they lead to hip pain, hopefully before you get to the cartilage changes. Because once you get cartilage changes and more advanced degeneration, you cannot preserve the cartilage with surgery.”

Read the full article at healio.com.