Arthroscopic-Assisted Management of Subchondral Bone Marrow Lesions of the Knee.

Abstract

Subchondral bone marrow lesions are a well-recognized source of pain and dysfunction. When indicated, surgical management involves lesion decompression and administration of biomaterials to address symptoms and facilitate healing. However, current techniques are limited in providing the precise and consistent access necessary to fulfill these requirements because targeting is generally performed freehand toward a lesion that is poorly visualized intraoperatively. The Panplasty system (PanOrthopaedics, Atlanta, GA) uses arthroscopic referencing to precisely localize and guide access to consistently decompress the lesion and deliver biomaterials while minimizing the use of fluoroscopy. This technique provides accuracy and simplifies an otherwise cumbersome procedure, allowing comprehensive treatment of joint pathology.