APEX Knee Navigating Pearls and Pitfalls-Smaller Lesion Debate: MFX vs Autograft Transfer 1 (Caldwell)

Smaller Lesion Debate: MFX vs Autograft Transfer 1 (Caldwell)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Paul Caldwell from Tucker Orthopedics and Orthopedic Research Virginia in Richmond, Virginia discusses smaller cartilage lesions and the debate between microfracture and osteochondral autograft transplantation (OATs) as treatment options. Caldwell highlights the prevalence of these lesions in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy and the potential for them to progress and limit an active lifestyle if left untreated. He explains that MRI scans are the best method to measure cartilage lesions but can underestimate their size. Caldwell provides an overview of microfracture and OATs, discussing their procedures, advantages, and disadvantages. He then presents surgical trends and reviews various studies comparing the two techniques, concluding that OATs generally yield better outcomes and a higher return to sports. Caldwell suggests a two-stage approach for the treatment of small chondral lesions and emphasizes his preference for OATs over microfracture.

Asset Caption

Dr. Paul Caldwell

Keywords

cartilage lesions

microfracture

osteochondral autograft transplantation

knee arthroscopy

surgical trends