Microdrilling Resulted in Less Subchondral Bone Destruction Than a Traditional Microfracture Awl for Articular Cartilage Defect Bone Marrow Stimulation

Bibliographic Details
Title: Microdrilling Resulted in Less Subchondral Bone Destruction Than a Traditional Microfracture Awl for Articular Cartilage Defect Bone Marrow Stimulation
Authors: Lucy E. Meyer, M.D., Richard M. Danilkowicz, M.D., Zoe W. Hinton, M.D., Bryan S. Crook, M.D., Bijan Abar, M.H.S., Nicholas B. Allen, B.S., Mitchell Negus, B.S.E., Eoghan T. Hurley, M.B., M.Ch., Ph.D., Alison P. Toth, M.D., Annunziato Amendola, M.D., Samuel B. Adams, M.D.
Source: Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation, Vol 5, Iss 5, Pp 100786- (2023)
Publisher Information: Elsevier, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Sports medicine
Subject Terms: Sports medicine, RC1200-1245
More Details: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare bone marrow stimulation using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis of an abrasion arthroplasty technique, drilling k-wire technique, traditional microfacture awl, or a microdrill instrument for subchondral bone defects. Methods: Eleven cadaveric distal femoral specimens were obtained and divided into 3 common areas of osteochondral defect: trochlea and weightbearing portions of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. Each area of interest was then denuded of cartilage using a PoweRasp and divided into quadrants. Each quadrant was assigned either a 1.6 mm Kirschner wire (k-wire), 1.25 mm microfracture awl, 1.5 mm fluted microdrill, PowerPick, or a curette (abrasion arthroplasty) to create 4 channels into the subchondral bone sing the same instrument. Subchondral bone and adjacent tissue areas were then evaluated using micro-CT to analyze adjacent bone destruction and extension into the bone marrow. Results: Overall, there was a significantly decreased area of bone destruction or compression using the microdrill (0.030 mm) as compared to the microfracture awl (0.072 mm) and k-wire (0.062 mm) (P < .05). Within the trochlea and the medial femoral condyle, there was significantly decreased bony compression with the microdrill as compared to the awl and k-wire (P < .05); however, when stratified, this was not significant among the lateral femoral condylar samples (P = .08). Conclusion: Bone marrow stimulation causes bony compression that may negatively impact subchondral bone and trabecular alignment. It is important to understand which tools used for bone marrow stimulation cause the least amount of damage to the subchondral bone. Clinical Relevance: This study demonstrates the decreased subchondral bony defects seen with the microdrill versus the traditional microfracture awl indicating that when performing bone marrow stimulation, the microdrill may be a less harmful tool to the subchondral bone.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2666-061X
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X23001360; https://doaj.org/toc/2666-061X
DOI: 10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100786
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/07736c4150be4a77842600d665565b0e
Accession Number: edsdoj.07736c4150be4a77842600d665565b0e
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2666061X
DOI:10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100786
Published in:Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation
Language:English