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 and cover the area where bones meet in the joints.

Description:

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

• Your knee may be numbed with injections of 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 surgical cut (incision) 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 to a video monitor in the operating room. It allows the surgeon to look inside your knee area and work directly on the joint. See also: Knee arthroscopy
• The surgeon makes another surgical cut and passes tools through this opening. A small pointed tool called an awl is used 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.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Microfracture surgery is done on people who have small amounts of damage in the cartilage of their knee joint and on the underside of their kneecap.

The goal of this surgery is to prevent or slow further damage to the cartilage from developing, and as a result knee arthritis. It can help people avoid the need for a partial or total knee replacement. It is also used to treat pain in the knee from cartilage injuries.

Another surgery, autologous chondrocyte implantation, is done for similar reasons.