Patient Satisfaction and Outcome After Microfracture of the Degenerative Knee

Abstract

Satisfaction and functional outcome was measured in 81 patients who were treated arthroscopically with microfracture for isolated degenerative lesions of the knee. Average patient age was 49 years (range: 40-70 years) and average degenerative lesion measured 229.5 mm 2 (range: 25-2000 mm 2 ). Patients were evaluated at average 2.6-year follow-up (range: 2-5 years).All subjective parameters measured (pain, swelling, limping, walking, stairs, sport level, and activities of daily living) demonstrated significant improvement over preoperative status (PϽ Ͻ.003). Lysholm score improved from 53.8 to 83.

Stimulation Techniques: Microfracturing, Drilling

“…Miller et al presented outcome data 2.6 years (2-5) after microfracture of degenerative cartilage lesions [ 23 ] in a level IV case series. All 81 patients were 40 years and older (40-70) and had an average defect size of 2.29 cm 2 (0. .…”

Management of Knee Articular Cartilage Injuries

“…Microfracture is generally indicated for a full-thickness, chondral defect (after debridement of the defect to stable rims with exposed bone) of the femoral condyles, trochlea, patella, or tibial plateau. The pioneer of microfracture (Steadman) has successfully utilized microfracture in degenerative arthritis (Miller, Steadman et al 2004). Although microfracture has been used in high-performance athletes (NFL) with excellent outcomes and return-toplay (Steadman, Miller et al 2003), other studies have shown less success in highperformance professional athletes, with low rates of return-to-sport and decreased performance if able to return (Cerynik, Lewullis et al 2009;Namdari, Baldwin et al 2009).…”

Management of cartilage defects in the shoulder

“…Increasing interest has been shown in the use of microfracture surgery. Its success rates in the knee (approaching 95%) [11,12] and relatively low morbidity have made it a popular technique for focal unipolar humeral head and glenoid lesions. The glenohumeral joint represents a unique situation given the relatively thin cartilage of the humeral head, with a mean thickness reported from 0.89 mm [13] to 1.44 mm [14].…”