Definition of Knee microfracture surgery:

Knee microfracture surgery is a common procedure used to repair damaged knee cartilage. Cartilage is the material that helps cushion the area where bones meet in the joints. Often, athletes have this procedure.

Description:

Three different types of anesthesia may be used for knee arthroscopy surgery:

• Your knee may be numbed with painkilling medicine, along with medicines to relax you
• Spinal (regional) anesthesia
• General anesthesia, where you will be unconscious and pain-free.

The surgeon will make a 1/4-inch-long incision (cut) on your knee.

• Then the surgeon will insert a long, thin device called an arthroscope through this incision. The arthroscope is like a camera. It is attached a video monitor in the operating room. It allows the surgeon to look inside your knee and work directly on the joint area. See also: Knee arthroscopy
• The surgeon uses a small pointed tool called an awl to make very small holes called microfractures (tiny breaks) in the bone near the damaged cartilage.
• The holes the surgeon makes in your bone release the cells in your bones that build new cartilage. Your body then builds new cartilage to replace the damaged cartilage.