plural microfractures
1
: a small or minute fracture in a material (such as bone or rock)
developed a microfracture in her knee
microfractures in sandstone
2
: a surgery performed by arthroscopy that involves drilling small holes into the bone near damaged articular cartilage to stimulate reparative growth
—often used before another noun
microfracture surgery
Examples of microfracture in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1992, Christie underwent microfracture surgery — a controversial knee procedure pointed to as a prime factor in the career declines of Webber and several other NBA stars, including Penny Hardaway and Amar’e Stoudemire. —
Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025 The team believes this thick paste-like biomaterial could be used in surgery as a less invasive way to encourage cartilage repair, compared to the current method of microfracture procedures. —New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2024
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Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025 The team believes this thick paste-like biomaterial could be used in surgery as a less invasive way to encourage cartilage repair, compared to the current method of microfracture procedures. —New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Microfracture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/microfracture. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
microfracture
noun
mi·cro·frac·ture ˌmī-krō-ˈfrak-chər, -shər 
1
: a small or minute fracture in a material (such as bone) : microcrack
Microfractures are the result of normal physical activity. Hence, the widespread occurrence of trabecular microfracture in cancellous bone implies that a reasonable rate of microfracture is physiologically tolerable.—Nicola L. Fazzalari, Calcified Tissue International
Nicola L. Fazzalari, Calcified Tissue International
2
: an arthroscopic surgical procedure for the repair of damaged articular cartilage that involves debriding loose and calcified cartilage and drilling small holes in the bone beneath so that blood and bone marrow flow through and form a clot over the area of cartilage damage which will eventually develop into replacement fibrocartilage
In a classic treatment for cartilage regeneration, known as microfracture, mesenchymal stem cells are released from marrow in the underlying bone to permeate the damaged cartilage area.—Jacob Klein, Science
Jacob Klein, Science
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