ABSTRACT
Articular cartilage injury is common in orthopedics. Improper exercises and physical trauma can lead to the injury of cartilage. Since articular cartilage lacks blood supply, once damaged, it is difficult for the cartilage to repair itself. If not treated effectively, cartilage injuries will develop into severe osteoarthritis affecting the whole joint. Arthroscopic microfracture technique can achieve better therapeutic effects than regular joint debridement, with simple procedures, minimal invasion, and low cost. However, the microfracture technique is limited by the patients′ age (under 45 years old) and the size of the cartilage defect area (less than 4 cm 2) Additionally, postoperative patients need to conduct strict and long-term rehabilitation trainings. Generally speaking, the short-term prognosis of microfracture is satisfactory. However, the repair tissue is mainly composed of fibrocartilage, which is inferior to hyaline cartilage because of its poor mechanical properties and anti-wear abilities. Therefore, the long-term effect is controversial. To conclude, arthroscopic microfracture is a recommended method for young patients with small cartilage defect areas, but its exact long-term clinical effects still need to be verified by further research. This paper reviews the operation protocol, clinical efficacy, and the mechanism of arthroscopic microfracture surgery, and aims to provides theoretical basis for its application in clinical treatment.