Knee microfracture surgery

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The structure of a joint

Knee microfracture surgery is a common technique used to repair damaged knee cartilage, the material that helps cushion bones at the joints. It is frequently performed on athletes.

Cartilage regeneration - knee

The surgeon makes a tiny, quarter-inch incision on the affected knee and inserts a long thin scope (arthroscope). This scope allows the surgeon to work directly on the joint area. The surgeon uses an ice pick-like tool called an awl to drill very small holes (“microfractures”) into the bone near the defective cartilage. The injury prompts the body to make new, replacement cartilage. Bone marrow seeps out of the holes, creating a blood clot that releases cartilage-building cells. 

Microfracture surgery can help a patient prevent a partial or total knee replacement. It is also used to treat pain in the knee from cartilage injuries, as well as:

• Early arthritis of the knee
• Lesions on the kneecap  
• Degenerative chondral lesions of the knee
• Traumatic injuries to the cartilage

Review Date: 03/09/2007
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.