Abstract: A process for regenerating articular cartilage in a joint including the steps of exposing the joint having a cartilage defect, debriding the entire cartilage layer to the underlying bone-cartilage interface, to expose a plurality of vascular sinusoids in the sub-chondral layer of bone adjoining the joint surface, restoring the smooth contour and topography of the joint to its natural state, surgically closing the joints, and injecting a single dosage of a mixture of purified growth hormone and buffer solution into the joint so as to initiate the regenerative process, said mixture containing a quantity of purified growth hormone (somatotropin) which has been dissolved in a buffer solution.