As a fellowship trained sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Pearle has a special interest in advancing the care of athletic knee injuries. Dr. Pearle is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Techniques in Knee Surgery and a team physician for the New York Mets. Dr. Pearle performs all his surgeries at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the #1 ranked orthopedic center in the country.

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Cartilage is a tissue that covers the end of the bone and prevents bones from grinding against each other. As such, cartilage acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the joint during active motion. Cartilage lesions can cause pain and clicking inside the knee joint, and are often associated with damage to the underlying bone.

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Dr. Pearle performs surgery to resurface cartilage lesions when conservative treatment fails. Microfracture is used for small cartilage lesions. The goal is to introduce stem cells into the damaged region to regenerate cartilage.

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Dr. Pearle feels strongly that patient education is essential for optimal outcome. The video above demonstrates the surgical technique for microfracture procedures. If considering surgery, please view the animation. Please also read through the Frequently Asked Questions, Risks, and other related information on the section to the right.