Cartilage? regeneration – knee

Knee microfracture surgery is a common procedure used to repair damaged knee cartilage?. Cartilage helps cushion and cover the area where bones meet in the joints.

Description

Three types of anesthesia may be used for knee arthroscopy surgery:

• Medicine to relax you, and shots of painkillers to numb the knee
• Spinal (regional) anesthesia
• General anesthesia (you will be asleep and pain?-free)

The surgeon will perform the following steps:

• Make a one-quarter-inch (6 mm) surgical cut on your knee.
• Place a long, thin tube with a camera on the end through this cut. This is called an arthroscope. The camera is attached to a video monitor in the operating room. This tool lets the surgeon look inside your knee area and work on the joint.
• Make another cut and passes tools through this opening. A small pointed tool called an awl is used to make very small holes in the bone near the damaged cartilage?. These are called microfractures.

These holes release cells from your bone marrow that can build new cartilage? to replace the damaged tissue.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

You may need this procedure if you have damage to the cartilage?:

• In the knee joint
• Under the kneecap

The goal of this surgery is to prevent or slow further damage to the cartilage?. This will help prevent knee pain?, swelling?, stiffness?, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis?. It can help you avoid the need for a partial or total knee replacement.

This procedure is also used to treat knee pain due to cartilage? injuries.

A surgery called autologous chondrocyte implantation or mosaicplasty can also be done for similar problems.

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Infection?

Risks for microfracture surgery are:

• Cartilage? breakdown over time. The new cartilage made by microfracture surgery is not as strong as the body’s original cartilage. It can break down more easily.
• Increased stiffness? of the knee.

Before the Procedure

Always tell your health care provider what drugs you are taking, including medicines, herbs, or supplements you bought without a prescription?.

During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

• Prepare your home .
• You may need to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and others.
• Ask your provider which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• If you have insulin? is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes?, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon will ask you to see the provider who treats you for these conditions.
• Tell your provider if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day.
• If you smoke, try to stop . Ask your provider for help. Smoking can slow down wound and bone healing.
• Always let your provider know about any cold, flu, fever?, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.

On the day of your surgery:

• You may be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

After the Procedure

Physical therapy? may begin in the recovery room right after your surgery. You will also need to use a machine, called a CPM machine. This machine will gently exercise your leg for 6 to 8 hours a day for several weeks. This machine is most often used for 6 weeks after surgery. Ask your provider how long you will use it.

Your doctor will increase the exercises you do over time until you can fully move your knee again. The exercises may make the new cartilage? heal better.

You will need to keep your weight off your knee for 6 to 8 weeks unless told otherwise. You will need crutches to get around. Keeping the weight off the knee helps the new cartilage? grow.

You will need to go to physical therapy? and do exercises at home for 3 to 6 months after surgery.

Outlook (Prognosis?)

Many people do well after this surgery. Recovery time can be slow. Many people can go back to sports or other intense activities in about 4 to 6 months. Athletes in very intense sports may not be able to return to their former level.

People under age 40 with a recent injury often have the best results. People that are not overweight also have better results.