The analysis of articular cartilage after thermal exposure: “Is red really dead?”

Partial-thickness articular cartilage (PARC) lesions have no propensity to heal. Surgical techniques have focused on halting their progression. Thermal chondroplasty procedures have become controversial with regard to the viability of the remaining cartilage. This controversy has expanded to the way that articular cartilage is evaluated after treatment. In this article, evaluation of articular cartilage viability is reviewed.