Quote:I don't think it's the end of the world.


The success rate:

Microfracture does not work for everyone. In degenerative knees it has been found to have about a 75% success rate. Twenty two percent of the patients remain unchanged and about three percent are made worse. Even a partially successful procedure can greatly enhance function and delay or eliminate the need for more aggressive surgery such as total joint replacement or cartilage transplantation.

 

 

1. If you quote something like this, give a source "http://www.ismoc.net/knee/microfracture.html" as it gives them credit and it gives you more credence.

 

2. They are discussing the procedure in reference to the general population for chronic degenerative disease over the age of 65. Degenerative changes of this sort are often different than early degenerative changes (causing pain or instability) from a chondral injury at a young age. 

 

3. The population they are discussing are typically those who would get joint replacement surgery if they were a candidate but are not for some reason. This is not the population of professional athletes.

 

4. When they mean "success", they mean back to being able to live a regular life. For many people over 65, that likely means minimal use required for basic needs of quality of life. Not every 65 year old with "successful" surgery can dance, run marathons, or do other things that make become the happy stories we read about it. 

 

5. Most professional athletes are not the same after microfracture surgery. Some can be close, but not most. Also the ones that do typically have a game not predicated on athleticism, speed, or agility but on instincts, smarts, and savvy.

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