Assessment of Patient, Joint, Cartilage Injury Characteristics

The cartilage surgeon is a comprehensive knee surgeon. A sound understanding of meniscal, ligamentous, and patellofemoral issues is required. Cartilage injuries are often a result of trauma or aberrant anatomy. Excessive pressure or shear forces on articular cartilage will decrease the longevity of its pristine surface. With limited native regeneration potential, specific techniques must be employed to restore or reconstruct the articular surface. This chapter discusses a complete evaluation of the knee including history, physical exam, and imaging. Core components will be obtained for all patients, but it is important to note that not every test or study will be employed uniformly. As with any sound evaluation, it will begin by conducting a comprehensive history.