Microfracture for cartilage defects in today’s Orthopaedics: Pearls and Pitfalls

Authors

Himanshu YN, Kasturba Medical College, ManipalFollow
Sufyan Ibrahim, Kasturba Medical College, ManipalFollow

Abstract

Microfracture technique has vacillating clinical outcomes, limited demographic applicability, high failure rate, and variable patient satisfaction. Although it does not deserve to be a gold standard technique, there has not been a technique that could overcome all possible disadvantages associated with the technique and at the same time give a favourable result/be suitable for widespread use/not have its own disadvantages. Microfracture, integrated with biomaterial/stem cell transfer has shown promise over the past decade but studies evaluating the long-term efficacy of the tests and standardization are lacking. Besides, cost and operative difficulties limit widespread use. Twenty-five years into the field, microfracture still stands as the first-line choice for most surgeons across the world for a satisfactory articular cartilage repair.

Recommended Citation

YN, Himanshu and Ibrahim, Sufyan (2021) "Microfracture for cartilage defects in today’s Orthopaedics: Pearls and Pitfalls," Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://impressions.manipal.edu/mjms/vol6/iss1/3