What is the purpose of performing a chondroplasty?

Chondroplasty is a surgical procedure specifically focused on addressing injuries or damage to cartilage, particularly in joints such as the knee. The primary goal of chondroplasty is to repair or smooth damaged cartilage surfaces, promoting healing and improving the function of the joint. This procedure can assist in alleviating pain, restoring range of motion, and enabling better movement without the discomfort that damaged cartilage can cause.

Other potential interventions, such as enhancing muscle function or removing bone spurs, do not directly relate to the primary objective of chondroplasty. While replacing a damaged joint serves an entirely different purpose by providing a new joint altogether, chondroplasty aims to preserve the natural joint structure as much as possible. Thus, the chosen answer accurately reflects the core function of chondroplasty in the realm of orthopedic treatments.