title: Microfracture for knee chondral defects: a survey of surgical practice among Canadian orthopedic surgeons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe the practice of microfracture surgery for knee chondral defects among Canadian orthopedic surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  All orthopedic surgeon members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association were invited to participate in a survey, designed to explore the microfracture technique used by orthopedic surgeons in the treatment for knee chondral defects The primary outcome measure was an emailed 26-item questionnaire, which explored indications for microfracture surgery, surgical techniques, types of postoperative rehabilitation regimes used and assessment of outcome. In addition, responses were compared between orthopedic surgeons with a sports medicine practice to surgeons with a non-sports medicine practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 24.6% (299/1,216), with 131 regularly performing microfracture. 41% of surgeons indicated that they had no upper limit for age at the time of surgery, and 87% indicated no upper limit for body mass index. The majority of respondents (97%) resected cartilage back to a stable margin, while 69% of respondents removed the calcified cartilage layer prior to creating holes. Only 11% of respondents used continuous passive motion (CPM) postoperatively, and 39% did not restrict weight bearing. Sports surgeons were more likely than non-sports surgeons to remove the calcified cartilage layer, use a 45° pick, use CPM and restrict weight bearing postoperatively (all P values < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey on microfracture for knee chondral defects revealed widespread variation among surgeons regarding the indications for surgery, surgical technique, postoperative rehabilitation and assessment of outcome. Sports surgeons demonstrate better evidence-based practice than non-sports surgeons for a few important parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey, Level II.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Orthopedic Sports Medicine at Women's College Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, 476C-600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G1X5, Canada. JTheodoropoulos@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D054544:Arthroplasty, Subchondral; D002170:Canada; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013178:Sports Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome