2023 Annual Meeting Wrist & Elbow Access Pass-Opinion_ Capitellar Chondral Defect, Marrow Stimulation

Opinion_ Capitellar Chondral Defect, Marrow Stimulation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Ben Graves from Atrium Health discusses treatment of elbow chondral defects in adolescent athletes, focusing on marrow stimulation/microfracture. For younger, lower-demand gymnasts with small, contained lesions and closed growth plates, arthroscopic marrow stimulation offers a low-risk option with no donor site morbidity. This approach aims to relieve mechanical symptoms, stimulate blood flow, and promote cartilage repair, potentially enabling return to sport without burning bridges for future procedures. Larger or poorly contained lesions in high-demand athletes may warrant grafting. Though evidence is limited, marrow stimulation remains a reasonable first-line treatment, with ongoing interest in cartilage regeneration techniques.

Asset Caption

Benjamin R. Graves, M.D.

Keywords

elbow chondral defects

adolescent athletes

marrow stimulation

microfracture

cartilage repair