Meniscal suturing versus screw fixation for treatment of osteochondritis dissecans: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging results

Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans: Current Concepts

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) primarily damages the subchondral bone, leading to damage to the articular cartilage. Juvenile OCD (JOCD) of the knee is limited to skeletally immature and young patients with open growth plates on radiographs. We conducted a review of PubMed articles up until March 16, 2024, using a combination of the following keywords: knee, juvenile, and osteochondritis dissecans. This narrative review included a total of 56 relevant articles that investigated the etiology, incidence, clinical presentation, imaging, classification, and treatment of JOCD of the knee in patients less than 20 years of age. The exact etiology is controversial. Most authors believe that the disease involves multiple theories, such as ischemia, recurrent trauma, and genetic predisposition. Radiographs, the first imaging study in this patient group, cannot determine the stability or instability of the surface cartilage of the OCD lesion. As a result, MRI has become a recommended diagnostic method for determining OCD stability and providing important information for determining a treatment plan. For stable JOCD lesions, nonsurgical treatment is often advised. For unstable and stable lesions that do not respond to nonsurgical treatment, several surgical techniques with good healing rates are available.

Meniscal rim instability has a high prevalence and a variable location

INTRODUCTION

Most classification systems for lateral discoid meniscus do not evaluate instability of the meniscal peripheral rim. Considerable variability in the prevalence of peripheral rim instability has been published, and it appears that instability is underestimated. The purpose of this study was: first, to evaluate the prevalence of peripheral rim instability and its location in the symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus, and second, to investigate if patient age or type of discoid meniscus are possible risk factors for instability.

METHODS

A cohort of 78 knees that underwent operative treatment due to symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus was analyzed retrospectively for the rate and location of peripheral rim instability.

RESULTS

Out of the 78 knees, 57.7% (45) had a complete and 42.3% (33) had an incomplete lateral meniscus. The prevalence of peripheral rim instability in symptomatic lateral discoid menisci was 51.3%, and with 32.5%, the anterior attachment was most commonly affected, followed by the posterior (30%) and central (10%) attachment. 27.5% of the tested menisci were unstable anteriorly and posteriorly. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of rim instability between the type of discoid menisci (complete vs. incomplete), nor was there a significant correlation for age as a risk factor for instability.

CONCLUSION

The discoid lateral meniscus has a high prevalence and variable location of peripheral rim instability. Meniscal rim stability must be tested and addressed cautiously in all parts and in all types of discoid lateral menisci during operative treatment.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: Imaging, instability concept, and criteria

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee is an idiopathic, focal, subchondral-bone abnormality that can cause instability or detachment of a bone fragment and overlying articular cartilage, with subsequent progression to osteoarthritis. The degree of lesion instability is best assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Unstable lesions require operative management with fragment fixation. Level of evidence: V.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: Epidemiology, etiology, and natural history

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee is a disease that typically affects skeletally immature patients. Clinically manifested with knee pain, limping, and joint disfunction, this condition has remained misunderstood and undervalued for a long period. Although being a rare condition, its awareness is of utmost clinical interest because of the possible severe consequences it can bring when misrecognized or inadequately treated. Its etiology remains unclear and is still debated. Many theories have been proposed, including inflammation, local ischemia, subchondral ossification abnormalities, genetic factors, and repetitive mechanical microtrauma, with a likely interplay of the same. This review article aims to deliver and discuss current and up-to-date concepts on epidemiology, etiology, and natural history of this pediatric condition. Level of evidence: level V.

An update on osteochondritis dissecans of the knee

Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee (OCD) is a multifactorial pathology in where repetitive microtrauma plays a central role in the etiopathogenesis. Knee MRI is indicated in young, active patients who have knee pain and/or effusion, to make an early diagnosis and decide about treatment, according essentially to the MRI stability signs. The choice of treatment should be also tailored, based on the patient's skeletal maturity, as well as the size and location of the lesion. Conservative treatment with restricting sports activities is the first line treatment and often sufficient to ensure healing in patients with open physes. Surgical treatment depends on the persistence of symptoms after 6 months of conservative treatment and/or based on the development of signs of instability of the lesion. Stable lesions with intact articular cartilage may be treated by drilling of the subchondral bone aiming to stimulate vascular ingrowth and subchondral bone healing. Every attempt should be made to retain the osteochondral fragment when possible. Instable lesions should be fixed or "replaced" with salvage procedures to prevent the onset of early osteoarthritis in this young population. Furthers studies are needed to improve the knowledge and optimizing non-operative and surgical treatment and to develop noninvasive diagnostic tools to predict with more accuracy the fragment's stability.

Sandwich Technique for Large Osteochondral Lesions of the Knee

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a sandwich technique procedure for large osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the medial femur condyle reduces clinical symptoms and improves activity level as well as to assess repair tissue integration on MRI over 2 years.

DESIGN

Twenty-one patients (median age: 29 years, 18-44 years) who received matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) combined with cancellous bone grafting at the medial femur condyle in a 1-step procedure were prospectively included. Patients were evaluated before surgery (baseline) as well as 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, including clinical evaluation, Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Rating Scale, and MRI with Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score and a modified Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS).

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were available for the 24-month (final) follow-up (4 dropouts). Lysholm significantly improved from 48 preoperatively stepwise to 95 at final follow-up (P < 0.05). Tegner improvement from 2.5 at baseline to 4.0 at final follow-up was not significant (P = 1.0). MOCART score improved significantly and stepwise from 65 at 3 months to 90 at 24 months (P < 0.05). Total WORMS improved from 14.5 at surgery to 7.0 after 24 months (P < 0.05). Body mass index and defect size at surgery correlated with total WORMS at final follow-up (P < 0.05) but did not correlate with clinical scores or defect filling.

CONCLUSION

MACT combined with cancellous bone grafting at the medial femoral condyle reduces symptoms continuously over 2 years. A 1-step procedure may reduce perioperative morbidity. However, despite improvements, patients' activity levels remain low, even 2 years after surgery.

An adult case of spontaneous healing of concurrent osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral femoral condyle after saucerization with meniscal repair for discoid lateral meniscus: A case report

BACKGROUND

The treatment strategy for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) in adults remains unclear.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 22-year-old man presented with left knee pain after spraining his knee. Physical examination revealed lateral joint line tenderness and a positive McMurray test. Radiographic imaging showed OCD of the lateral femoral condyle classified as stage 3 on Brückl's classification. Magnetic resonance imaging showed complete DLM with anterocentral shift based on Ahn's classification and an OCD of 11 mm × 8 mm, grade 2 based on Nelson's classification. On computed tomography (CT), a demarcated fragment was observed in the lesion. Based on these findings, saucerization with meniscal repair was performed for unstable DLM. The OCD lesion presented with softening without any fissure and was diagnosed as grade 1. No surgical procedure was added. One year after surgery, the union of the fragment was confirmed on radiograph and CT. At the final follow-up five years after surgery, the Lysholm score had improved from 58 to 100 points.

CONCLUSIONS

We experienced an adult case of stable OCD with concurrent DLM that achieved spontaneous healing after undergoing reshaping surgery for DLM, mimicking normal meniscal morphology, without additional treatment for the stable OCD lesion.

Arthroscopic Meniscopexy for the Treatment of Nontraumatic Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Knee Joint of Adult Patients

OBJECTIVE

The etiology of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is still uncertain. Recently, it has been hypothesized that instability of the anterior horn of the meniscus is an important cause for the development of a nontraumatic OCD in adolescents with good results after surgical stabilization. This case series aims to evaluate the treatment results after meniscus stabilization in adults with nontraumatic OCD.

DESIGN

Ten patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-confirmed OCD of the knee joint, meniscal instability, and closed epiphyseal plates were enrolled in this study. The instable meniscus was stabilized by direct suturing of the anterior horn of the meniscus. MRI examinations were performed preoperative and 6 and 12 months postoperative. The OCD was classified arthroscopically according to Guhl and according to Hughes in the MRI. The overall knee function was evaluated by the Lysholm score before treatment and 12 months postoperative.

RESULTS

Four women and 6 men with a mean age of 20.6 ± 1.9 years were included in this study. Preoperatively 60% of the patients showed a grade II or III lesion arthroscopically and 70% a grade III or IVa lesion in the MRI examination. After arthroscopic meniscus stabilization the Lysholm score increased in average from 48.1 ± 14.12 before treatment to 97.5 ± 3.1 postoperative. At final follow-up after 12 months, an improvement of the OCD in the MRI could be demonstrated in all patients (100%). In 80% of the patients a complete healing of the OCD could be noted.

CONCLUSION

The clinical concept of an instable anterior horn of the meniscus as a cause for the development of a nontraumatic OCD seems to be transferable to adults and arthroscopic stabilization can lead to a sufficient healing of this knee pathology.

Factors Related to Postoperative Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Lateral Femoral Condyle After Meniscal Surgery in Juvenile Patients With a Discoid Lateral Meniscus

PURPOSE

The purpose was to assess the incidence of postoperative osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and the related epidemiologic factors following meniscal surgery for juvenile discoid lateral meniscus (DLM).

METHODS

The study was a retrospective review of 103 knees in 89 patients with a mean age of 12.1 years who underwent arthroscopic meniscal surgery for DLM. Mean follow-up was 4.2 years. The surgical procedures were either saucerization, saucerization with repair or subtotal meniscectomy, depending on the type of DLM tear. Postoperative OCD lesions were identified radiographically. Age, sex, weight, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, exercise frequency, and surgical procedure were compared between the postoperative OCD diagnosis group and non-OCD control group.

RESULTS

Postoperative OCD was diagnosed in 8/103 (7.8%) knees following DLM surgery. The incidence of postoperative OCD was significantly greater for patients age less than 10 years old, and male sex, low weight, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale preinjury and after returning to sports, and exercise frequency per week on univariate analyses. On multivariate analyses, postoperative OCD occurred more commonly with subtotal meniscectomy than with saucerization or saucerization with repair, and in patients less than 11 years of age. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff value of age at surgery of 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Subtotal meniscectomy and patients younger than 10 years at the time of surgery are at greater risk for postoperative OCD. To decrease this risk, if possible, we recommend performing saucerization or saucerization with repair in patients undergoing surgery for DLM.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: Etiology and Pathogenetic Mechanisms. A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this manuscript is to analyze the evidence regarding etiopathogenesis of knee osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions through a systematic review, so to summate the current understanding of the origin and progression of this pathologic articular processes.

DESIGN

A systematic review of the literature was performed on the PubMed and Cochrane databases on October 2017 by 2 independent authors and included all levels of evidence. This included all English language literature, pertaining specifically to etiopathology of knee OCD with exclusions for review articles and expert opinion. Of 965 identified records, 154 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 86 studies met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

According to these studies, the etiology of OCD can be of a biological or mechanical origin: 40 articles proposed a biological hypothesis, including genetic causes (27), ossification center deficit (12), and endocrine disorders (9); conversely, 52 articles supported a mechanical hypothesis, including injury/overuse (18), tibial spine impingement (5), discoid meniscus (16), and biomechanical alterations (20) as the cause of the onset of OCD. The pathogenic processes were investigated by 36 of these articles, with a focus on subchondral bone fracture and ischemia as the ultimate events leading to OCD.

CONCLUSIONS

Biological and mechanical factors are found to result in subchondral bone remodeling alterations, acting independently or more likely synergically in the progression of knee OCD. The former includes genetic causes, deficit of ossification centers and endocrine disorders; the latter, tibial spine impingement, discoid meniscus, and biomechanical alterations, together with injuries and overuse. The resultant subchondral bone ischemia and/or fracturing appears to determine the onset and progression of OCD.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review of level II-IV studies, level IV.

Predictive factors for osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral femoral condyle concurrent with a discoid lateral meniscus

PURPOSE

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the lateral femoral condyle is relatively rare, and it is often reported in combination with discoid lateral meniscus. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying this connection. Predictive factors for OCD coinciding with discoid lateral meniscus in Japanese children and adolescents were assessed.

METHODS

During 2000-2015, 152 knees in 133 patients aged 5-15 years were diagnosed with symptomatic complete discoid lateral meniscus. Patients were evaluated using radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OCD was radiographically graded using the Brückl classification. Based on Ahn's MRI classifications, discoid lateral meniscus was divided into four types of meniscal shift: no shift (N), anterocentral (AC), posterocentral (PC), or central (C). Relationships between OCD and patient sex, age and Ahn's shift type were analysed.

RESULTS

OCD of the lateral femoral condyle was associated with discoid lateral meniscus in 22 (14.5%) of 152 knees. OCD was classified as Brückl's stage 1 in 5 knees, stage 2 in 12, stage 3 in 3, stage 4 in 1, and stage 5 in 1. OCD was found in 12 of 96 knees (12.5%) with type N meniscal shift, 4 of 24 knees (16.7%) with type AC, 0 of 21 knees (0%) with type PC, and 6 of 11 knees (54.5%) with type C. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that males had a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) [14.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6-83.4]. Those aged 5-11 years had a significantly higher OR (12.5; 95% CI 2.8-55.9) than those aged 12-15 years. The OR for type C coinciding with OCD was significantly elevated (13.4; 95% CI 2.3-78.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent OCD was found in 22 (14.5%) of 152 knees with discoid lateral meniscus. Male sex, young age (5-11 years), and having a type C meniscal shift of the discoid lateral meniscus as shown by MRI were found to be predictive factors for OCD of the LFC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Femoral osteochondritis of the knee: prognostic value of the mechanical axis

PURPOSE

Femoral osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of unknown aetiology and variable prognosis that causes knee pain. In this paper, the authors study the impact of lower limb malalignment on the development and prognosis of OCD.

METHODS

After anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiograph and MRI of the knee, 53 cases of OCD were diagnosed. All patients were studied by standing full-length AP radiograph of the lower extremities in order to analyse the relationship between the femorotibial and mechanical axis and the location and stability of the osteochondritis.

RESULTS

The OCD lesion was located in the medial condyle (zone 2) in 75.5% of cases (40 cases). The lateral condyle was affected in 24.5% of cases (zone 4 in nine cases and zone 5 in four cases). The femorotibial angle (anatomical axis) was normally aligned in 68% of cases. A valgus deformity was observed in 9.5% of cases and a varus deformity in 22.5%. The mechanical axis of the limb appeared normal in only 32% of cases, with medial deviation in 53%, and lateral deviation in 15% of cases. When the OCD lesion was located in the medial condyle (40 cases), the mechanical axis also crossed the knee through the medial zone in 28 cases. When the OCD lesion was located in the lateral condyle (13 cases), the mechanical axis crossed the knee through zones 1 or 2 in four cases. In stable OCD, the mechanical axis and location of the lesion coincided in 19 of 36 cases (52%), compared with 16 of 17 cases (94%) in unstable OCD.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high correlation between OCD location and lower limb mechanical axis deviation. The convergence of the mechanical axis with the location of the OCD lesion may be considered an associated factor in fragment instability. This convergence is more common in unstable OCD.