Abrasion arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to smooth off bits of damaged joint cartilage using a high-speed burr.

Page updated February 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

abrasion arthroplasty

With the camera in one hand and the shaver instrument in the other, the surgeon is able to see the abrasion of the damaged area on the monitor.

 

The logic of abrasion arthroplasty

The word 'arthroplasty' means 'reshaping of the joint'. 'Abrasion' means to 'grind down'. So an abrasion arthroplasty sounds like a surgical procedure to reshape the joint by grinding down the damaged surface. However, the procedure is now considered to be one of the 'marrow stimulation' procedures whereby the abrading leads to the release of mesenchymal stem cells from the underlying bone marrow, and that these have the potential to repair to some extent the damaged cartilage.

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Forum discussions

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Peer-reviewed papers

  • Quote:

    "Abrasion arthroplasty is used for cartilage lesions of any grade....it is easy to perform especially if cartilage lesions are seen during a diagnostic procedure. For most other marrow-stimulating procedures, special drills have to be used whereas [arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty] can be performed with a shaver. "

    Citation: Beckmann R, Lippross S, Hartz C, Tohidnezhad M, Ferreira MS, Neuss-Stein S, Seekamp A, Nebelung S, Kweider N, Rath B, Jahr H, Pufe T, Varoga DJ. Abrasion arthroplasty increases mesenchymal stem cell content of postoperative joint effusions. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Sep 12;16:250. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0705-0. PMID: 26364138; PMCID: PMC4567829.

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Synonyms: 
debridement
arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty
arthroscopic debridement
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...