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OCTOBER 2017 | The Surgical Technologist | 447 PJACT:TreatingArticular CartilageDefects L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S s Discuss why there is an increase in patients being treated for articular cartilage damage s Explain the anatomy and the physiology of the articular cartilage in the knee s Recall the articular cartilage zones s Review the technique described in this article for a PJAC transplant s List the grades used to identify the level of articular damage Grace Le Blanc , cst I ncreasing articular cartilage damage also is commonly seen in athletes. In collegiate, professional and world-class athletes, knee articular cartilage lesions are observed in 36% to 38% of cases.13 There also has been a rise in participation in general organized rec- reational sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, etc, which has been associated with the increased rate of articular cartilage injuries. Continual wear and tear on articular cartilage can lead to progressive cartilage tissue loss, resulting in early joint degeneration. 8 In this arti- cle, a discussion of the anatomy and physiology of knee joint articular cartilage will be presented, as well as an explanation of diagnosing articular cartilage damage. This article’s main focus will showcase one of the latest techniques available in cartilage repair: the Particulated Juvenile Allograft Cartilage Transplant (PJACT). Articular cartilage defects are a common cause of knee joint pain and disability, and in the United States approximately 30,000 to 100,000 chondral procedures are performed every year. 11 Thus, articular cartilage restoration is the shared goal of many orthopedists, not only because the clinical need is urgent, but also because the need continues to increase due to the population’s longer and more active life spans. 4