Patent ID: 8821504

Claim:
A method for treating joint pain comprising: identifying a source of the pain of the joint based on an image of the joint, the image indicating the presence of a defect in the subchondral region of a bone of the joint; locating an insufficiency fracture in the subchondral region of the joint, wherein a subchondral defect is further present near the insufficiency fracture, the subchondral defect comprising a bone marrow lesion; evaluating the bone marrow lesion based on a location of the bone marrow lesion and a size of the bone marrow lesion from the image of the joint; mapping an access path to a location in the subchondral region where the insufficiency fracture resides, wherein the access path preserves an articular surface of the joint; and implanting in the bone, via the access path, a reinforcing member that stabilizes the insufficiency fracture.