Scaffold-associated procedures are superior to microfracture in managing focal cartilage defects in the knee: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Despite the limitations of study heterogeneity, scaffold-associated procedures appear to be superior to MF in terms of patient-reported outcomes at two years though similar at five years. Future evaluation would benefit from studies using validated clinical scoring systems, reporting failure, adverse events and long-term clinical follow up to determine technique safety and superiority.