Arthroscopic treatment of articular cartilage damage of the knee using a limited abrasion chondroplasty and microfracture

ABSTRACT

Fifty patients with limited extent of chondral damage of the femoro-tibial joint treated by arthroscopic debridment, limited abrasion chondroplasty and micro-fracture of the exposed bone. There were31 men and 19 women with an average age 45.7 years [range 22-65 years]. The duration of symptoms ranged between one to 10 years with a mean of 5.2 years. Patients were followed for an average 25.6 months [range 13 - 48 months]. The overall end result showed that 78% had either excellent or good result and remains good until last seen. There was significant improvement in pain, abilities for work activities, squatting, range of motion and swelling. Worst results were obtained in patients above 50 years, with affection of both condyles, associeated patello-femoral osteoarthritis and malalignment. The best result was found in patients below age of 40 years, with no varus deformity and a shorter period of complaints. There was no correlation between the outcome and the degree of damage of the articular cartilage and associated meniscal tears or ACL injuries. In Conclusion, The functional outcome was encouraging in most of the cases following the above procedure. The key for success is the proper selection of patients with limited disease and no malalignment. Microfracture is a cost-effective technique available to all arthroscopic surgeons using proper instrumentation with complications