Arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty

Arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty is an elaborate description for an exten sive multiple tissue debridement for patients seeking an alternative to tot al knee replacement. The operation is palliative, not curative. In patients seeking an alternative to total knee replacement, the definitive operation may be avoided or deferred in a high percentage of patients as many as 5 y ears. Because the abrasion portion of the operation is accompanied by multi ple tissue type debridement, it is not known what clinical benefit the abra sion aspect contributes. Furthermore, no prospective randomized clinical st udies have been done and most clinicians reporting on their experience with the procedure have varied the indications, technique, and/or postoperative treatment. Future investigation may answer these clinical questions. It is known that fibrocartilage forms at the abrasion site. The reparative tissu e has many of the characteristics of cartilage, but does not have the biome chanical properties of articular cartilage. The fibrocartilage has shown du rability for many years confirmed during opportunistic second look arthrosc opy. The applications of growth factor science or genetic engineering may p rovide means of converting the regenerative tissue of abrasion arthroplasty to mature articular cartilage.