[Microfracture and specific rehabilitation for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. Indications, surgical technique, and rehabilitation protocol].

Treatment of osteoarthritis in young and middle-aged patients, in whom joint replacement is usually not appropriate, is a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. Arthroscopic techniques can help control patients' symptoms. In particular, the microfracture procedure combined with management of the joint volume and a specific rehabilitation protocol shows good results in patients with osteoarthritis and cartilage defects by resurfacing the defect with a combination of types I and II cartilaginous tissue. Microfracture is a single-staged arthroscopic procedure that can be combined with any other arthroscopic treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. With an appropriate rehabilitation protocol and techniques for controlling the joint volume, these treatments are very effective for pain relief and functional improvement. The described technique is our choice for initial surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.