Microfracture Surgery

When joint cartilage is damaged, it can cause swelling, pain, loss of function and lead to osteoarthritis. To preserve the joint, reduce cartilage loss and improve comfort, arthroscopic surgery can be used to stimulate healing. Microfracture surgery is one option for joint preservation used by Dr. Kerisimasi Reynolds, an experienced orthopedic surgeon in San Jose.

How does Join Microfracture Surgery Work?

Joint microfracture surgery is accomplished in two stages. The first stage is debridement, a removal of damaged cartilage from the joint. This arthroscopic surgery is performed through a tiny incision using an arthroscope to transmit images to Dr. Reynolds from inside the joint. Loose pieces and damaged cartilage are removed to eliminate irritation and allow healing.

The second stage of microfracture surgery is to make microfractures in the bone beneath the damaged cartilage areas. These small surgical incisions do not damage the bone but stimulate a healing response to create new cartilage cells to replace the damaged areas that were removed. The surgery is outpatient and the surgical incision is very small, healing quickly after the treatment.

Microfracture surgery for joint preservation works best with patients with limited cartilage damage. For instance, an injury that created a small lesion in your knee cartilage can be repaired with microfracture surgery. Those who still have healthy cartilage surrounding the damaged area have better results from this surgery. Dr. Reynolds may recommend other joint preservation treatments that can be combined with microfracture surgery to obtain the best results for your joint condition.

If you suffer from joint pain from damaged cartilage, microfracture surgery may be a minimally-invasive option to improve your symptoms and mobility. To learn more about joint preservation treatments like microfracture surgery, contact the office of Dr. Kerisimasi Reynolds to schedule an appointment for an exam and consultation.