ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride on osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. MethodsBetween January 2014 and June 2015, 24 patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the knee ready to undergo arthroscopic microfracture surgery were divided into experimental group (odd surgery sequence numbers) treated with arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride (480 mg/time, 3 times per day, from the first day to 3 months after the surgery) and control group (even surgery sequence numbers) treated with arthroscopic microfracture surgery. All the patients were discharged from the hospital after one week of rehabilitation exercises with rehabilitation equipment of lower extremity. Follow-up lasted for at least 6 months. The therapeutic effects of the two methods were assessed according to Tegner scores for motor function of knee joint and United States New York specialty surgical hospital (HSS) scores. ResultsThe symptoms of knee joint was alleviated significantly after the operation. The function of knee joint was improved significantly after 6 weeks. Tegner and HSS scores before surgery were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). The Tegner scores were not significantly different between the two groups 6 weeks after surgery (P>0.05). The difference of Tegner scores were statistically significant between the two groups 12 and 24 weeks after surgery (P<0.05), and HSS scores of the experimental group improved better than the control group 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe short-term effect of arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride is better than that of arthroscopic microfracture surgery in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee.