Editorial Commentary : Cartilage Restoration Is Joint Preservation, and Joint Preservation Requires Treating the Whole Joint

Abstract

Focal articular cartilage lesions of the knee rarely occur in isolation. Malalignment, meniscal deficiency, ligamentous instability, and patellofemoral maltracking frequently coexist, creating the mechanical environment in which cartilage restoration either succeeds or fails. In our view, the most important conceptual shift in cartilage surgery over the past decade has been the reframing of concomitant procedures (osteotomy, meniscal allograft transplantation, ligament reconstruction, and tibial tubercle osteotomy) from add‐ons into graft‐protecting interventions that address the drivers of the original lesion. Available evidence increasingly supports performing these procedures concomitantly at the index operation without compromising outcomes, and in the setting of malalignment or meniscal deficiency, it suggests improved survivorship. The literature remains heterogeneous and cannot yet define precise correction thresholds, ideal alignment targets, or a uniform definition of failure. Still, the governing principle is clear: cartilage restoration is joint preservation, and joint preservation requires treating the whole joint. Ultimately, progress in cartilage restoration will require more than better grafts, scaffolds, cells, or biologic augmentation. It will require a more precise understanding of the mechanical environment into which these restorative procedures are placed, supported by long‐leg alignment imaging, meniscal and patellofemoral assessment, advanced imaging, gait analysis, and patient‐specific risk modeling. Combined intervention strategies will optimize the knee organ environment and enhance the likelihood for disease modification over time with sustainable and meaningful outcomes.