Cartilage Injury in the Athlete

This text provides essential information needed to serve the large population of young athletic patients with cartilage defects who are not yet candidates for joint arthroplasty. Nearly 350 illustrations facilitate the understanding of examination and operative techniques, including arthroscopic debridement, electrothermal chondroplasty, marrow stimulation, osteochondral autograft transfer (OATS/Mosaicplasty), autologous chondrocyte implantation, and osteochondral allografting. The text also addresses joint specific injuries in the shoulder, elbow, and ankle that are often neglected in other literature. Key Features: Reviews normal cartilage anatomy and cartilage response to injury to illuminate appropriate treatment techniques and healing processes. Covers non-operative techniques including analgesics, oral anti-inflammatory medications, neutraceuticals, and hyaluronic acid injections/viscosupplementation, allowing the clinician to expand treatment options. Descriptions of adjunctive procedures, such as meniscal transplant and corrective osteotomy. Provides insights on future directions in the detection and treatment of cartilage injuries.