Managing the patient with failed cartilage restoration.

In comparison to the amount of published information on the surgical management of cartilage defects in general, there has been a relative lack of emphasis regarding the management of patients who present with failed attempts at index cartilage repair. The objectives of this review are to: (1) identify patient and procedure-specific factors that are associated with failed cartilage surgery; (2) identify strategies that have the potential to decrease failure rates after articular cartilage restoration; and (3) develop an algorithmic approach to managing patients who present with prior failed cartilage procedures.