Chondral Flap Tear, Microfracture and Stem Cells

[Geralt of Rivia]

I saw my surgeon today, after an MRI confirmed a full thickness tear of chondral surface of my knee. He said I needed surgery to treat it. I've already had surgery on that knee for a meniscus tear. He explained that they would remove the torn cartilage and the surrounding area. Then they puncture the underlying bone so that a kind of scab forms (made of a different kind of cartilage), which replaces the removed piece. He then mentioned that I'm also eligible for a research trial where they insert stem cells into the tissue to try to aid cartilage regeneration. This would ordinarily cost me over 10k Australian dollars, but as part of the trial I'd get it all for free. I'm wondering if anyone has had Microfracture surgery? If so, what was the recovery time? Does anybody know much about stem cell use in this context? Thanks.

 

[BoomGate]

Nobody had a chondral flap tear or microfracture surgery?

 

[El Diablo]

I believe TripleB had a microfracture procedure involving the knee; maybe you can glom on to one of his threads (I saw one about guitar riffs in Odds and Ends) and ask him to contact you.