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What Is Micro Fracture Knee Surgery?

Knee microfracture surgery is a procedure used to repair damaged knee cartilage. It is typically performed on people with minor cartilage damage and it can prevent the need for total or partial knee replacement.

  1. Procedure Description

    • A surgeon performing knee microfracture surgery makes tiny holes in the bone near the damaged cartilage. These microfractures release the cells in bones that build new cartilage to replace damaged cartilage, according to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Recovery

    • After knee microfracture surgery, patients are often required to keep weight off of their knee for six to eight weeks. Physical therapy may include a continuous passive motion machine (CPM) that exercises the leg for six to eight hours a day for several weeks, according to Medline Plus.

    Risks

    • Risks for knee microfracture surgery include increased stiffness of the knee bone and cartilage breakdown. The Drexel University College of Medicine states that the fibrocartilage created by microfracture surgery is less durable than the body's original cartilage.

    Prognosis

    • Many who undergo knee microfracture surgery can return to sports or athletic activities in about four months. People younger than 40 years old whose cartilage injury is recent often see the best results, states Medline Plus.

    Development of Procedure

    • Dr. Richard Steadman of the Steadman- Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo, developed knee microfracture surgery, according to the New York Times. The procedure is common among professional athletes but is also becoming increasingly popular for non-professional athletes with knee damage.

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