The healing potential for articular cartilage lesions is limited due to many physiological, local and mechanical factors. Spontaneous healing of partial- and full-thickness lesions is slow, and subsequent tissue response is usually not durable. In symptomatic, and high-demand, patients, a definitive treatment modality must be offered which allows for a sustained recovery with minimal debilitation. Injuries, which damage the subchondral bone, heal with the formation of fibrocartilage. This tissue fails long-term survival because of its inability to withstand the variable cyclic loads and compression forces that it is subjected to. While regeneration of the damaged cartilage by an entirely new articular surface is a goal beyond current available techniques, repair of the osteochondral defects with normal hyaline cartilage is possible by various options. Osteochondral defects that are larger then 2 cm are best treated by osteochondral autograft technique. The short-term outcomes of the present series show excellent results.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are usually managed by reconstruction with autograft or allograft, but primary repair in carefully selected patients is a reasonable option. Proximal avulsions presenting early with excellent tissue quality are amenable to repair and healing. Restoration of native ACL preserves its proprioceptive and kinematic functions. A repair is less invasive and avoids graft-related problems, and faster rehabilitation is possible. Protection for the repair in the early stages will allow better healing. We present our technique of ACL repair using knotless suture anchors with high-strength sutures and protection using high-strength sutures tapes inserted through the same anchors.
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