Patent ID: 8119591

Claim:
A method of treating a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage in the joint of an individual comprising the steps: a. administering to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage an effective amount of an infiltration suppressor agent that suppresses or inhibits infiltration of synoviocytes, fibroblasts, or subchondral bone marrow cells into the defect or area, wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is a corticoid steroid or a combination of a corticoid steroid and a cartilage derived morphogenetic protein (CDMP), and b. administering to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage an effective amount of a columnar growth promoting agent that promotes columnar growth of articular chondrocytes in the defect or area, wherein the columnar growth promoting agent is selected from the group consisting of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), an insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and combinations thereof.