This procedure is performed arthroscopically (through key-hole surgery) and involves various techniques to deal with irregular articular cartilage surfaces. Such irregularities may be the result of a knee injury or can result from “wear and tear” processes in the knee joint. These can cause roughened areas of cartilage or loose cartilage flaps and fissures. These can cause pain and swelling.
The cartilage surface can be smoothed by trimming loose cartilage flaps using specialised instruments such as punches or motorised shavers. We also use radio frequency devices to smooth the irregular cartilage flaps and have been using a low temperature radiofrequency device that uses a technology called “coblation” for some time to minimise the chance of any temperature changes caused by the device causing any thermal damage to the cartilage.