title: Outcomes of mechanical debridement and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of chondral defects: a prospective randomized study.
abstract: This study compared the clinical and biomechanical outcomes of mechanical debridement with and without monopolar radiofrequency energy in treating chondral defects. Patients who were scheduled for arthroscopic procedures (diagnostic, debridement and lavage, and meniscectomy) and consented to biomechanical cartilage stiffness testing comprised the study population. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. In group 1, 14 patients underwent mechanical debridement only, and in group 2, 15 patients underwent mechanical debridement followed by monopolar radiofrequency. Clinical status was evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form. In group 2, the biomechanical properties of the defective cartilage before and after treatment also were evaluated. Findings showed a trend toward improvement in mechanical stiffness of energy-treated chondral lesions. Moreover, no significant differences were found between IKDC scores at average follow-up of 16 to 19 months. The addition of radiofrequency energy, at least in the investigated form, does not add clinically significant benefits over mechanical debridement alone of chondral defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison Ave, Suite 1063, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Andreas H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gomoll
authors.forename: Shane J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nho
authors.forename: Tamara K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pylawka
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003646:Debridement; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome