Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis and Generational Development of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

Talar OsteoPeriostic Grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC): Two-Year Prospective Results of a Novel Press-Fit Surgical Technique for Large, Complex Osteochondral Lesions of the Medial Talus

BACKGROUND

Press-fit Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) is a novel technique for the treatment of large osteochondral lesions of the talus. The purpose of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes for patients with medial osteochondral lesions of the talus that were treated with the TOPIC procedure.

METHODS

Forty-three patients were prospectively assessed before and 24 months after the TOPIC procedure. All procedures were performed through a medial distal tibial osteotomy. Clinical assessment preoperatively and at 24 months of follow-up included determination of the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores for pain during walking (primary outcome), at rest, during running, and during stair-climbing. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score and Physical Component Summary (PCS) score of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) were also assessed. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed 12 weeks postoperatively to assess union of the distal tibial osteotomy site and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively to assess consolidation of the graft as well as cyst development in the graft.

RESULTS

All enrolled patients were available for follow-up. The median NRS score for pain during walking improved from 7 points preoperatively to 2 points at 2 years postoperatively (p < 0.001). All other NRS scores for pain improved significantly. All FAOS subscale scores improved significantly, including those for pain (from 53 to 75), symptoms (from 50 to 61), activities of daily living (from 68 to 88), sports (from 30 to 55), and quality of life (from 19 to 38). The SF-36 PCS score improved from 43 to 48 (p < 0.001), and the MCS score changed from 28 to 26 (p > 0.05). There was a 100% rate of union of the osteotomy site at the distal tibia and 100% of the grafts showed consolidation at 1 and 2 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

The TOPIC procedure for large osteochondral lesions of the medial talar dome is an effective technique that resulted in significant improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference in pain scores (primary outcome) as well as in other outcomes, with 100% consolidation of the grafts.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) for lateral osteochondral lesions of the talus: operative technique

OBJECTIVE

To provide a natural scaffold, good quality cells, and growth factors to facilitate replacement of the complete osteochondral unit with matching talar curvature for large osteochondral lesions of the lateral talar dome.

INDICATIONS

Symptomatic primary and non-primary lateral osteochondral lesions of the talus not responding to conservative treatment. The anterior-posterior or medial-lateral diameter should exceed 10 mm on computed tomography (CT) for primary lesions; for secondary lesions, there are no size limitations.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Tibiotalar osteoarthritis grade III, malignancy, active infectious ankle joint pathology, and hemophilic or other diffuse arthropathy.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Anterolateral arthrotomy is performed after which the Anterior TaloFibular Ligament (ATFL) is disinserted from the fibula. Additional exposure is achieved by placing a Hintermann distractor subluxating the talus ventrally. Thereafter, the osteochondral lesion is excised in toto from the talar dome. The recipient site is micro-drilled in order to disrupt subchondral bone vessels. Thereafter, the autograft is harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest with an oscillating saw, after which the graft is adjusted to an exactly fitting shape to match the extracted lateral osteochondral defect and the talar morphology as well as curvature. The graft is implanted with a press-fit technique after which the ATFL is re-inserted followed by potential augmentation with an InternalBrace™ (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA).

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Non-weightbearing cast for 6 weeks, followed by another 6 weeks with a walking boot. After 12 weeks, a computed tomography (CT) scan is performed to assess consolidation of the inserted autograft. The patient is referred to a physiotherapist.

Is there clinical evidence to support autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) for chondral defects in the talus? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to systematically review the literature on clinical outcomes of patients who have undergone autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCL) and compare the studies' outcomes.

METHODS

Pubmed and Embase were searched in January 2020 for articles concerning OCL surgery. Studies were included if they had a minimum 1-year follow-up and the primary measures were functional outcomes. The meta-analysis compared the Visual Analogic Score (VAS), the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), and the Foot Function Index (FFI) between baseline and follow-up of 1-2years, and 3-5years. A random effects model was used to evaluate outcome changes.

RESULTS

The search returned 15 studies, with a total of 492 patients. The VAS improved 4.45 and 4.6 points from baseline to the 1-2year and 3-5yearfollow-up, respectively (p<0.001). AOFAS improved 31.59 and 32.47 points from baseline to the 1-2year and 3-5yearfollow-up, respectively (p<0.001). The FFI showed a significant improvement of 30.93 points from baseline to year 3-5 (p<0.001). A total of 6 patients with revision surgeries have been reported within the follow up period. It was not possible to correlate clinical features like lesion size, surgical approach, and bone marrow stimulation technique to the reported outcome.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment of OCL via the AMIC procedure provided significant improvement in the functional outcome and pain scores when compared to the pre-operative values. Improvements were observed up to 5years post-operatively.

Talar OsteoPeriostic grafting from the Iliac Crest (TOPIC) for large medial talar osteochondral defects : Operative technique

OBJECTIVE

Provision of a natural scaffold, good quality cells, and growth factors in order to facilitate the replacement of the complete osteochondral unit with matching talar curvature for large medial primary and secondary osteochondral defects of the talus.

INDICATIONS

Symptomatic primary and secondary medial osteochondral defects of the talus not responding to conservative treatment; anterior-posterior or medial-lateral diameter >10 mm on computed tomography (CT); closed distal tibial physis in young patients.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Tibiotalar osteoarthritis grade III; multiple osteochondral defects on the medial, central, and lateral talar dome; malignancy; active infectious ankle joint pathology.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

A medial distal tibial osteotomy is performed, after which the osteochondral defect is excised in toto from the talar dome. The recipient site is microdrilled in order to disrupt subchondral bone vessels. Then, the autograft is harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest with an oscillating saw, after which the graft is adjusted to an exact fitting shape to match the extracted osteochondral defect and the talar morphology as well as curvature. The graft is implanted with a press-fit technique after which the osteotomy is reduced with two 3.5 mm lag screws and the incision layers are closed. In cases of a large osteotomy, an additional third tubular buttress plate is added, or a third screw at the apex of the osteotomy.

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Non-weight bearing cast for 6 weeks, followed by another 6 weeks with a walking boot. After 12 weeks, a CT scan is performed to assess consolidation of the osteotomy and the inserted autograft. The patient is referred to a physiotherapist.

RESULTS

Ten cases underwent the TOPIC procedure, and at 1 year follow-up all clinical scores improved. Radiological outcomes showed consolidation of all osteotomies and all inserted grafts showed consolidation. Complications included one spina iliaca anterior avulsion and one hypaesthesia of the saphenous nerve; in two patients the fixation screws of the medial malleolar osteotomy were removed.

Single-step scaffold-based cartilage repair in the knee: A systematic review

Chondral lesions are difficult-to-treat entities that often affect young and active people. Moreover, cartilage has limited intrinsic healing potential. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to analyse whether the single-step scaffold-based cartilage repair in combination with microfracturing (MFx) is more effective and safe in comparison to MFx alone. From the three identified studies, it seems that the single-step scaffold-assisted cartilage repair in combination with MFx leads to similar short- to medium-term (up to five years follow-up) results, compared to MFx alone. All of the studies have shown improvements regarding joint functionality, pain and partly quality of life.

The Use of All-Arthroscopic Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis for the Management of Humeral and Glenoid Chondral Defects in the Shoulder

Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) is often used for treating chondral defects in different joints. We describe an all-arthroscopic approach for the treatment of glenoid and humeral chondral lesions with this technique. AMIC starts with the use of microfractures of the damaged cartilage, followed by coverage of the defect with a type I/III collagen matrix (Chondro-Gide; Geistlich Pharma, Wolhusen, Switzerland) that is fixed with fibrin glue (Tissucol; Baxter, Warsaw, Poland). In a 1-step approach, the unstable cartilage is debrided, microfractures that penetrate up to the subchondral bone are performed, and the membranes are pasted to the lesion. Our technique reduces morbidity rates compared with traditional open surgery. The arthroscopic AMIC procedure is a viable, cost-effective treatment for the repair of chondral lesions of the shoulder.