Introduction:

Knee cartilage injuries are common and they have multiple causes. Treatment is considered challenging due to the poor repair potential of the cells of this tissue. Nanofractures are surgical techniques that stimulate healing.

Objective:

To describe the most important elements about the nanofracture technique in patients with cartilage injuries.

Methods:

The search and analysis of the information was completed in 62 days. The following terms were used: articular cartilage defects, microfractures, nanofractures, chondral lesions, bone marrow stimulation techniques, drilling, cartilage lesions fractures. Three hundred eleven articles were reviewed in PubMed, Hinari, SciELO and Medline databases using EndNote search manager and reference manager.

Development:

The incidence of patients with cartilage lesions was reported, and the repair procedures to preserve the subchondral plate and its historical evolution were indicated. The differences between nano fractures and micro fractures were also explained, and the technique and instruments to perform the procedure were described.

Conclusions:

Nanofracture constitutes a useful technique, easy to apply with more promising results than other techniques with similar indications. It is used by arthrotomy or arthroscopically.

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