Outcomes of the chondral lesions of knee treated by microfracture technique and effective factors on the results

• Main Authors: Mehmet Bulut, H. Bayram Tosun, Sancar Serbest, Yılmaz Palancı3, Erhan Yılmaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2011-12-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Knee joint; condral lesion/ arthroscopy; early surgery; microfracture
• Online Access: http://www.dicle.edu.tr/fakulte/tip/dergi/yayin/384/06.pdf
• ISSN: 1300-2945; 1308-9889

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the microfracture technique in the treatment of chondral lesions.Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed in 26 patients who had treated by arthroscopic microfracture technique for chondral lesions in the femoral condils between January 2003 and 2007september in our department. There were 11 females and 15 males with mean age of 37.2 years (range from 23 to 56 years). The average time between beginning of complaints and operation were 9.7 months (range from 3 to 35 months). The average of chondral lesions size were 1,6 cm2 (range from 0.7 to 2.4 mm2). The average follow-up period was 24.3 months (ranged from 10 to 44 months). Patients assessed according to subjective patient satisfaction and Lisholm scale at preoperative and postoperative time.Results: The mean Lysholm score increased from a preoperative 56.9 (range from 43 to 72) to a postoperative 77.9 (range from 62 to 100) (p<0.05). The rating was excellent in 9 patients (34.6%), good in 7 (27%) and fair in 10 (38.4%) according to Lysholm scale. All patients were satisfied with their knee function. The results of MRI taken at postoperative sixth month were proportional with patient’s satisfaction and Lysholm scores.Conclusion: Patients with excellent or good results had short symptom period, small chondral lesion and young age. Applied early microfracture technique in treatment of chondral lesions was a low cost, effective and successful treatment modality