“Push and Park” Microdrilling Technique for Chondral Lesions of the Patella: A Technical Note

Abstract

Abstract Background: The most used treatment modality for chondral lesions of the patella, particularly when the lesion is <2 cm2, is microdrilling. However, reduced working space and mobility of the patella make this procedure technically difficult. To bypass this technical difficulty, we describe a simple technique of “Push and park” for microdrilling of the chondral lesions of the patella. Materials and Methods: Patients operated on by this technique in 2021 were followed for 1 year. Patients operated for magnetic resonance imaging-proven International Cartilage Repair Society grade III and IV patellofemoral chondral lesions (PFCLs) that are localized and <2 cm2 with or without other concomitant knee pathologies were included. The functional outcomes were evaluated using the Tegner Lysholm score and Kujala score. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in the study. Of these, 7 cases had isolated PFCL, 8 cases had associated medial meniscal posterior horn root tears, and the remaining 6 cases had anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The mean follow-up period was 14 (±2) months. The average age was 41 (±7) years. We had 12 female and 9 male patients. The Tegner Lysholm and Kujala scores improved significantly in all the patients at 1-year postsurgery (P = 0.035 and P = 0.026, respectively). Conclusion: We have described a simple and reproducible technique for microdrilling of difficult-to-access patellar lesions. When used appropriately, the technique can be a cost-effective method of managing the chondral lesions of the patella.