Definition of Knee microfracture surgery:

Knee microfracture surgery is a common technique used to repair damaged knee cartilage, the material that helps cushion bones at the joints. It is frequently performed on athletes.

Description:

The surgeon makes a tiny, quarter-inch surgical cut on the affected knee and inserts a long thin scope (arthroscope). This scope allows the surgeon to work directly on the joint area.

The surgeon uses an ice pick-like tool called an awl to drill very small holes (“microfractures”) into the bone near the defective cartilage. The injury prompts the body to make new, replacement cartilage. Bone marrow seeps out of the holes, creating a blood clot that releases cartilage-building cells.

Indications:

Microfracture surgery can help avoid a partial or total knee replacement. It is also used to treat pain in the knee from cartilage injuries, as well as:

• Degenerative chondral lesions of the knee
• Early arthritis of the knee
• Lesions on the kneecap
• Traumatic injuries to the cartilage