Arthroscopic Microfracture Method Results in Chondromalacia Patellae and Our Cases,

Chondromalacia patella is the softening, fraying or ulceration of the cartilage located at posterior side of patellae and is accompanied by anterior knee pain. Generally it is imaged through arthroscopic procedures. It is not clinically significant as long as it is not painful. While softening and swelling is observed initially, fissuration and subchondral bone exposure can also be seen later. The prioritized method is the conservative treatment. Trimming the free parts helps the patients who didn’t benefit from this treatment. In the presence of patellar malalignment, lateral retinacular release, proximal and distal alignment surgery and surgeries aiming at tibial tubercule elevations can be performed. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation yields better results when applied with alignment surgery. The mean age of 38 patients, who were diagnosed with stage 4 chondromalacia patella on different dates and who underwent arthroscopic microfracture method is 37.6 (29-52). The mean follow-up time is 22.3 months (9-33) (Figure 1-2-3-4). Our patients were evaluated pre-operationally and in follow-ups according to Lysholm score. While the Preop Lysholm score was 66.6, post-op score became 83.4