Ankle Cartilage
Treatment Dubai
Deep, aching ankle pain that lingers months after a sprain — sometimes with catching, swelling after sport, or a feeling of something "inside" the joint — is often not the ligaments at all, but an injury to the cartilage surface of the talus: an osteochondral lesion (OLT). These injuries are easily missed on standard X-rays and are a common reason a sprain "never got better."
Why early diagnosis matters
Cartilage has almost no blood supply and limited ability to heal itself. Small, stable lesions can be managed without surgery, but lesions that are left to progress become larger, harder to treat, and raise the long-term risk of ankle arthritis. MRI is the key investigation.
Treatment options
Depending on the size, depth and location of the lesion, options range from arthroscopic debridement and bone marrow stimulation for smaller lesions, to cartilage restoration techniques for larger or recurrent ones. Dr. Haidar's fellowship training at the Centre Santy–FIFA Medical Center in Lyon centred on exactly this kind of joint-preservation decision-making in athletes: matching the technique to the lesion and to the demands of your sport.
Recovery
Cartilage procedures need patience — protected weight-bearing for the first weeks, then progressive loading. Return to impact sport is typically staged over four to eight months depending on the technique used. The trade-off for the slower timeline is a joint preserved for the decades ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to take the next step?
Consultations available in English, French and Arabic at two Emirates Hospital locations in Dubai.