Debridement of Chondral Defects of the Knee Wheeless

Description: Surgical technique for management of osteochondral injury
- these injuries are distinct from degenerative arthritic lesions and management of these lesions should remain distinct as well;
- theory is that penetration of subchondral bone causes bleeding from underlying vessels which allows clot formation in the cartilaginous defect and subsequent formation of fibrocartilage;
- some argue that subchondral drilling may be preferable to abrasion arthroplasty;
- for smaller chondral/osteochondral lesions, most authors recommend debridement and either abrasion arthroplasty or microfracture technique;