Arthroscopic Debridement, Microfracture and Chondroplasty
A healthy knee has a normal, thick layer of cartilage covering the bony parts of the joint
Pain may result if the cartilage is damaged through injury or thinned as a result of “wear and tear”
Isolated areas of abnormal cartilage may respond to surgical intervention, especially if the area of damage is small or if there are loose flaps of cartilage causing a mechanical irritation
The surgery is performed arthroscopically (“keyhole” or minimally invasive surgery). This allows for faster recovery times and minimal scarring
Procedures involve some or all of the following:
Removal of any loose flaps and/or edges of cartilage causing mechanical irritation
Microfracture – if there is a small but deep area of cartilage damage surrounded by healthy cartilage, small holes can be made into the underlying bone to stimulate the formation of cartilage scar tissue to smooth the defect and reduce pain
Removal of loose bodies which may be causing locking (unable to straighten the knee)