TNF and Familial osteochondritis dissecans: Bone marrow-stimulating operative procedures such as abrasion, drilling, and microfracture (Kreuz et al. 2006) and tissue engineering techniques are sometimes performed in patients with osteoarthritis or osteochondritis dissecans (Wakitani et al. 2002), and blocking of TNF activity may promote cartilage repair in conjunction with these techniques.