Retrograde drilling is used to treat which condition?

Retrograde drilling is used to treat which condition?

• A. Tendinopathy
• B. Osteoarthritis
• C. Osteochondral defects
• D. Metabolic bone disease

Answer: (C)

Retrograde drilling is a joint-preserving technique aimed at healing osteochondral defects. The idea is to stimulate healing in the subchondral bone while leaving the overlying cartilage surface intact. By drilling channels from the healthy cartilage area into the underlying defective bone, blood supply and marrow elements can reach the lesion, promoting repair tissue formation and revascularization. This approach is most appropriate when the cartilage surface is largely preserved and the defect is contained, which is characteristic of osteochondral defects. The other options involve tendon degeneration, diffuse joint cartilage wear, or systemic bone metabolism problems, which aren’t addressed by this drilling method.

Retrograde drilling is a joint-preserving technique aimed at healing osteochondral defects. The idea is to stimulate healing in the subchondral bone while leaving the overlying cartilage surface intact. By drilling channels from the healthy cartilage area into the underlying defective bone, blood supply and marrow elements can reach the lesion, promoting repair tissue formation and revascularization. This approach is most appropriate when the cartilage surface is largely preserved and the defect is contained, which is characteristic of osteochondral defects. The other options involve tendon degeneration, diffuse joint cartilage wear, or systemic bone metabolism problems, which aren’t addressed by this drilling method.