Yeah, that's something most people don't understand. You had to have the surgery yourself unfortunately and probably know first-hand that you have the surgery only when you *already* have such a bad injury that nearly all your cartilage is destroeyed

You're pretty much on the money. In fact, the reason that so many young players are having this done is because they are trying to patch the defect in the cartilage before it has gone too far.

Microfracture is more effective on smaller defects than it is on big ones. Preventing further damage also protects against arthritis and bone bruising.

I think you will soon see a lot more athletes having their cartilage harvested then grown in a laboratory and implanted or getting cartilage transplants as I did.

oohah