Microfracture surgery due to a lack of studies on the long-term effects and the fact that an unsuccessful surgery could end an athlete's career. Dr. Steadman has also adapted the surgery into a treatment to help reattach torn ligaments (a technique he calls the "healing response") The surgery is performed by arthroscopy, after the joint is cleaned of calcified cartilage. Through use of an awl, the surgeon creates tiny fractures in the subchondral bone plate. Blood and bone marrow (which contains stem cells) seep out of the fractures, creating a blood clot that releases cartilage-building cells. The microfractures are treated as an
ISAKOS - International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Asia-Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society (APKASS), European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Artroscopia, Rodilla y Deporte (SLARD). When a member applies to ISAKOS he will be considered for one of two primary membership categories: Doctors with interest or ability in the fields of medicine or science and who have demonstrated an interest in arthroscopy, knee surgery, and orthopaedic sports medicine shall be eligible. These members are not entitled to vote and are not eligible to hold office. Individuals qualified as orthopedists, musculoskeletal surgeons, rheumatologists or the equivalent, from all countries