Table 2.

Treatment options for articular cartilage lesions

Procedure	Indications	Outcome
Arthroscopic debridement and lavage	Minimal symptoms	Palliative
Marrow stimulation	Smaller lesions, low-demand patient	Reparative
Osteochondral autograft	Smaller lesions, low-or high-demand patients	Restorative
Osteochondral allograft	Larger lesions with bone loss, low-or high-demand patients	Restorative
Autologous chondrocyte implantation	Small and large lesions with and without bone loss, high-demand patients	Restorative
Genetic engineering	Investigational	Restorative

From Garrick JG, editor: Orthopaedic knowledge update: sports medicine, 3^rd ed, Rosemont, IL, 2004, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.