Primary Versus Secondary Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation for the Treatment of Large Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Outcomes Following Repeat Ankle Arthroscopy and Microfracture for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

BACKGROUND

The management of symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) previously treated with arthroscopy is controversial. Minimal data exist on the role for repeat arthroscopy. Here, we describe our experience with repeat arthroscopy and microfracture for symptomatic OLTs.

METHODS

Our database was queried over an 8-year period to identify patients undergoing repeat arthroscopy and microfracture as treatment for symptomatic OLTs. Phone surveys were conducted to assess residual pain, patient satisfaction, and need for subsequent surgery. We compared patient outcomes based on the size of their OLT (small lesions ≤150 mm2, large >150 mm2) and the presence or absence of subchondral cysts.

RESULTS

We identified 14 patients who underwent repeat arthroscopy and microfracture for symptomatic OLTs. Patients reported reasonable satisfaction (7.6 ± 3.5 out of 10) but moderate residual pain (4.7 ± 3.4 out of 10) at midterm follow-up (5.1 ± 2.9 years). In total, 21% (3/14) of patients had undergone subsequent surgery. Patients with small (n = 5) and large OLTs (n = 9) had similar postoperative pain scores (4.2 ± 4.1 vs 4.9 ± 3.2) and postoperative satisfaction levels (6.4 ± 4.9 vs 8.3 ± 2.5).

CONCLUSION

At midterm follow-up, repeat arthroscopy for symptomatic OLTs demonstrated reasonable satisfaction but moderate residual pain. Lesion size or presence of subchondral cysts did not affect outcome, but our sample size was likely too small to detect statistically significant differences. These data show that repeat ankle arthroscopy can be performed safely with modest outcomes, and we hope that this report aids in managing patient expectations.Level of Evidence: Level IV Case Series.

Management of Subchondral Lesions in the Foot and Ankle

The treatment of subchondral lesions is an area with limited focus within the foot and ankle literature. The literature has shown an association between disruption of the subchondral bone plate and the formation of subchondral cysts. The primary causes of subchondral lesions are acute trauma, repetitive microtrauma, as well as idiopathic means. Evaluation of these injuries should be done carefully and often requires advanced imaging including MRI and computed tomography. Treatment does vary depending on the presentation of the subchondral lesion with or without the presence of an osteochondral lesion.

The Frequency and Severity of Complications in Surgical Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 6,962 Lesions

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim was to determine and compare the complication rate of different surgical treatment options for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). The secondary aim was to analyze and compare the severity and types of complications.

DESIGN

A literature search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library. Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Primary outcome was the complication rate per surgical treatment option. Secondary outcomes included the severity (using the Modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink Complication Classification System for Orthopedic Surgery) and types of complications. The primary outcome, the severity, and the sub-analyses were analyzed using a random effects model. A moderator test for subgroup-analysis was used to determine differences. The types of complications were presented as rates.

RESULTS

In all, 178 articles from the literature search were included for analysis, comprising 6,962 OLTs with a pooled mean age of 35.5 years and follow-up of 46.3 months. Methodological quality was fair. The overall complication rate was 5% (4%-6%; treatment group effect, P = 0.0015). Analysis resulted in rates from 3% (2%-4%) for matrix-assisted bone marrow stimulation to 15% (5%-35%) for metal implants. Nerve injury was the most observed complication.

CONCLUSIONS

In 1 out of 20 patients treated surgically for an OLT, a complication occurs. Metal implants have a significantly higher complication rate compared with other treatment modalities. No life-threatening complications were reported.

Collagen Scaffold Application in Arthroscopic Reconstruction of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus With Autologous Cancellous Bone Grafts

Background

Single-step all-arthroscopic techniques have gained popularity recently in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). Concomitant subchondral bone defects led surgeons to add autologous bone grafting to the surgical procedures. Collagen scaffolds have been used widely for stabilization of the reconstruction and regeneration of the articular surface.

Purpose

To compare single-step all-arthroscopic treatment of OLT consisting of debridement, microfracture, autologous bone grafting, and application of fibrin sealant in 2 patient groups: with versus without collagen scaffold.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Included were 94 patients who underwent single-step all-arthroscopic treatment for OLT. Autologous bone grafting was applied to 48 patients (BG group), while autologous bone grafting plus collagen scaffold was applied to 46 patients (BG+S group). A fibrin sealant was applied to both groups. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Radiological outcomes were evaluated with the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue score. The mean follow-up time was 69.3 ± 20.7 months.

Results

Patients in both groups showed statistically significant improvement in pre- to postoperative AOFAS and VAS scores (P < .001 for all), with no difference between groups in AOFAS and VAS score improvement. Complete healing with or without hypertrophy was achieved in 42 patients in the BG group (87.5%) and 38 patients in the BG+S group (82.6%).

Conclusion

The treatment of bone lesions in OLT may be the ultimate goal to obtain successful outcomes, in which case using a collagen scaffold besides grafting may not affect clinical and radiological outcomes.

Favorable long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes with high survivorship after autologous osteochondral transplantation of the talus

PURPOSE

To evaluate long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients undergoing autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) and to perform a correlation analysis between clinical and radiologic outcomes.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with a mean age of 32.2 ± 8.9 years undergoing AOT for OLT between 1997 and 2003 were available for follow-up after an average of 19.1 ± 1.4 years. Demographic, surgical, and injury-related data were collected. After a minimum 18-year follow-up, patient-reported outcome scores (PROs) were collected, including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Tegner Activity Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain of the ankle. The Lysholm Score and VAS for pain of the knee were collected to assess donor-site morbidity. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained to conduct an assessment of the replaced cartilage using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) 2.0 scoring system. Any revision surgery (except symptomatic hardware removal and arthroscopic debridement) was defined as clinical failure.

RESULTS

Favorable clinical and radiologic (MOCART score, 73.7 ± 16.7 points) outcomes without any donor-site morbidities were observed. Twenty-three (65.7%) patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgical treatment. Fourteen (40.0%) and 25 (71.4%) patients had no or minor limitations in their athletic and working performance, respectively. A significant correlation between the MOCART and the FAOS Sport and Recreational activities subscale was found (r_s, 0.491; p = 0.033). Six (17.1%) patients met the criteria for clinical failure an average of 12.2 ± 6.6 years after AOT. Survival analysis demonstrated a mean estimated time of survival of 21.3 years (95% CI [19.55, 22.96]) and a 20-year survival rate of 77.9%.

CONCLUSION

Autologous osteochondral transplantation to treat OLT achieves high patient satisfaction and favorable PROs with a 20-year survival rate of almost 80%. Given the high clinical efficacy of AOT, this procedure can be recommended as a safe and promising technique for the long-term therapy of OLT.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Prognostic factors for the management of chondral defects of the knee and ankle joint: a systematic review

Purpose

Different surgical techniques to manage cartilage defects are available, including microfracture (MFx), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), osteoarticular auto- or allograft transplantation (OAT), autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC). This study investigated the patient-related prognostic factors on the clinical outcomes of surgically treated knee and ankle cartilage defects.

Methods

This study followed the PRISMA statement. In May 2022, the following databases were accessed: PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus. All the studies investigating the outcomes of surgical management for knee and/or talus chondral defects were accessed. Only studies performing mesenchymal stem cells transplantation, OAT, MFx, ACI, and AMIC were considered. A multiple linear model regression analysis through the Pearson Product–Moment Correlation Coefficient was used.

Results

Data from 184 articles (8905 procedures) were retrieved. Female sex showed a positive moderate association with visual analogue scale at last follow-up (P = 0.02). Patient age had a negative association with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (P = 0.04) and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (P = 0.03). BMI was strongly associated with graft hypertrophy (P = 0.01). Greater values of VAS at baseline negatively correlate with lower values of Tegner Activity Scale at last follow-up (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The clinical outcomes were mostly related to the patients’ performance status prior surgery. A greater BMI was associated with greater rate of hypertrophy. Female sex and older age evidenced fair influence, while symptom duration prior to the surgical intervention and cartilage defect size evidenced no association with the surgical outcome. Lesion size and symptom duration did not evidence any association with the surgical outcome.

The Effectiveness of Osteochondral Autograft Transfer in the Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are common following ankle trauma. Operative treatment is often required, with osteochondral autografting frequently performed for large or cystic lesions, or following failed primary surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current evidence for osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) in the management of OLT. A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (CMS). Meta-analysis was carried out using RevMan, version 5.4 (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020). A total of 23 studies were included. The mean modified CMS was 48.1±7.47. Fourteen studies reported preoperative and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Score (AOFAS). The aggregate mean preoperative and postoperative VAS score across 14 studies was 6.47±1.35 and 1.98±1.18, respectively. Meta-analysis of seven studies on 210 patients found that OATS resulted in a significant reduction in VAS score compared to baseline (Mean Difference {MD} -4.22, 95% Confidence Interval {CI} -4.54 to -3.90, P < 0.0001). The aggregate mean preoperative and postoperative AOFAS scores across 14 studies were 56.41±8.52 and 87.14±4.8, respectively. Based on eight studies on 224 patients, OATS resulted in a significant improvement in AOFAS score compared to baseline (MD 29.70, 95% CI 25.68 to 33.73, P = < 0.0001). Donor site pain occurred in 9% of cases. Current evidence from low-quality studies suggests that OATS is a safe and effective treatment option for OLT, though it is associated with a risk of donor site morbidity.

Allograft Versus Autograft Osteochondral Transplant for Chondral Defects of the Talus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether the results of osteochondral transplant using autografts or allografts for talar osteochondral defect are equivalent.

PURPOSE

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to compare allografts and autografts in terms of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), MRI findings, and complications.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted in February 2021. All studies investigating the outcomes of allograft and/or autograft osteochondral transplant as management for osteochondral defects of the talus were accessed. The outcomes of interest were visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score. Data concerning the rates of failure and revision surgery were also collected. Continuous data were analyzed using the mean difference (MD), whereas binary data were evaluated with the odds ratio (OR) effect measure.

RESULTS

Data from 40 studies (1174 procedures) with a mean follow-up of 46.5 ± 25 months were retrieved. There was comparability concerning the length of follow-up, male to female ratio, mean age, body mass index, defect size, VAS score, and AOFAS score (P > .1) between the groups at baseline. At the last follow-up, the MOCART (MD, 10.5; P = .04) and AOFAS (MD, 4.8; P = .04) scores were better in the autograft group. The VAS score was similar between the 2 groups (P = .4). At the last follow-up, autografts demonstrated lower rate of revision surgery (OR, 7.2; P < .0001) and failure (OR, 5.1; P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Based on the main findings of the present systematic review, talar osteochondral transplant using allografts was associated with higher rates of failure and revision compared with autografts at midterm follow-up.

Augmenting Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate with Particulate Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Is Associated With Improved Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Osteochondral autograft transplant (OAT) is often used to treat large osteochondral lesions of the talus and is generally associated with good outcomes. The addition of adjuncts such as cartilage extracellular matrix with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (ECM-BMAC) may further improve the OAT procedure but have not been thoroughly studied. We hypothesized that the placement of ECM-BMAC around the OAT graft would improve radiographic and patient-reported outcomes following OAT.

METHODS

Patients who received OAT, with ECM-BMAC or BMAC alone, were screened and their charts were reviewed. For patients who did receive ECM-BMAC, the mixture was spread around the edges of the OAT plug and into any surrounding areas of cartilage damage. Survey and radiographic data were collected. Average follow-up in both groups was over 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were scored using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Tissue (MOCART) system. Outcomes were compared statistically between groups.

RESULTS

Patients treated with ECM-BMAC (n = 34) demonstrated significantly greater improvement of scores in the FAOS categories Symptoms (17 vs -3; P = .02) and Sports Activities (40 vs 7; P = .02), and the MOCART category Subchondral Lamina (P = .008) compared to those treated with BMAC alone (n = 30). They also experienced significantly lower rates of postoperative cysts (53% vs 18%, P = .04) and edema (94% vs 59%, P = .02).

CONCLUSION

The addition of ECM-BMAC to OAT was associated with improved imaging and clinical outcomes compared to OAT with BMAC alone.

Surgical Management of Focal Chondral Defects of the Talus: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

No consensus has been reached regarding the optimal surgical treatment for focal chondral defects of the talus.

PURPOSE

A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the clinical scores and complications of mosaicplasty, osteochondral auto- and allograft transplant, microfracture, matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte transplant, and autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) for chondral defects of the talus at midterm follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

Bayesian network meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

This Bayesian network meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of health care interventions. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were accessed in February 2021. All clinical trials comparing 2 or more surgical interventions for the management of chondral defects of the talus were accessed. The outcomes of interest were visual analog scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, rate of failure, and rate of revision surgery. The network meta-analysis were performed through the routine for Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model analysis. The log odds ratio (LOR) effect measure was used for dichotomous variables, and the standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Data from 13 articles (521 procedures) were retrieved. The median length of the follow-up was 47.8 months (range, 31.7-66.8 months). Analysis of variance revealed no difference between the treatment groups at baseline in terms of age, sex, body mass index, AOFAS score, VAS score, and mean number of defects. AMIC demonstrated the greatest AOFAS score (SMD, 11.27) and lowest VAS score (SMD, -2.26) as well as the lowest rates of failure (LOR, 0.94) and revision (LOR, 0.94). The test for overall inconsistency was not significant.

CONCLUSION

At approximately 4 years of follow-up, the AMIC procedure for management of focal chondral defects of the talus produced the best outcome.

Evidence for operative treatment of talar osteochondral lesions: a systematic review

Purpose

Operative treatment of talar osteochondral lesions is challenging with various treatment options. The aims were (i) to compare patient populations between the different treatment options in terms of demographic data and lesion size and (ii) to correlate the outcome with demographic parameters and preoperative scores.

Methods

A systemic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases Pubmed (MEDLINE) and Embase were screened for reports with the following inclusion criteria: minimum 2-year follow-up after operative treatment of a talar osteochondral lesion in at least ten adult patients and published between 2000 and 2020.

Results

Forty-five papers were included. Small lesions were treated using BMS, while large lesions with ACI. There was no difference in age between the treatment groups. There was a correlation between preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and change in AOFAS score (R = −0.849, P < 0.001) as well as AOFAS score at follow-up (R = 0.421, P = 0.008). Preoperative size of the cartilage lesion correlates with preoperative AOFAS scores (R= −0.634, P = 0.001) and with change in AOFAS score (R = 0.656, P < 0.001) but not with AOFAS score at follow-up. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a comparison of the outcome between the different operative techniques was not possible.

Conclusion

Patient groups with bigger lesions and inferior preoperative scores did improve the most after surgery.

Level of evidence

IV.

Cell therapies for chondral defects of the talus: a systematic review

Background

This systematic review investigated the efficacy and safety of surgical procedures augmented with cell therapies for chondral defects of the talus.

Methods

The present systematic review was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Google scholar, Embase, and Scopus databases were accessed in March 2022. All the clinical trials investigating surgical procedures for talar chondral defects augmented with cell therapies were accessed. The outcomes of interest were to investigate whether surgical procedures augmented with cell therapies promoted improvement in patients reported outcomes measures (PROMs) with a tolerable rate of complications.

Results

Data from 477 procedures were retrieved. At a mean follow-up of 34.8 ± 9.7 months, the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) improved of 4.4/10 (P = 0.002) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) of 31.1/100 (P = 0.0001) points. No improvement was found in Tegner score (P = 0.4). Few articles reported data on complications. At last follow-up, the rate of reoperation and failure were 0.06% and 0.03%, respectively. No graft delamination or hypertrophy was observed.

Conclusion

The current evidence suggests that cell therapies may be effective and safe to enhance surgical procedures for chondral defects of the talus. These results should be considered within the limitations of the present study. The current literature should be enriched with randomized controlled clinical trials with larger population size and longer follow-up.

Results of the osteochondral autologous transplantation for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus with harvesting from the ipsilateral talar articular facets

PURPOSE

There are few studies on the clinical outcomes of osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) harvesting from local talar non-weight-bearing articular facets for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). The purpose of this study was to review the short- to midterm outcomes of our patients who were treated with OAT harvesting from ipsilateral talar articular facets for OLTs.

METHODS

Between December 2010 and November 2018, 24 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 16 males and eight females with an average age of 39.1 years and a follow-up period of 50.9 months. The clinical results were evaluated according to the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Pre-operative plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, post-operative radiographs, and X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans at the last follow-up were observed.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in the AOFAS score from 61.3 ± 19.0 pre-operatively to 84.9 ± 9.2 post-operatively (P < 0.001). The VAS score improved from 6.1 ± 2.3 to 2.0 ± 1.4 at the last follow-up (P < 0.001). Twenty-one patients (87.5%) were satisfied with their clinical results. By the last follow-up CT scan, there was bone cyst formation at the donor sites in three patients, at the recipient sites in five patients and at both sites in five patients. Two patients (8.3%) underwent re-operation with arthroscopic debridement because of medial gutter hypertrophic soft tissue impingement.

CONCLUSION

OAT harvesting from the ipsilateral talar articular facet showed satisfactory results. The mean post-operative VAS score and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score improved significantly. Post-operative impingement around the osteotomy site was the main complication and reason for re-operation after the index procedure. In addition, bone cysts at the recipient and/or donor site(s) were found with a large percentage under CT. Therefore, longer follow-up is necessary to determine the long-term clinical results for this technique.

Comparison of Autologous Osteoperiosteal and Osteochondral Transplantation for the Treatment of Large, Medial Cystic Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

BACKGROUND

Autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation (AOPT) using graft harvested from the iliac crest is used to treat large cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). However, no studies have compared clinical and radiologic outcomes between AOPT and autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOCT) using graft harvested from the nonweightbearing zone of the femoral condyle of the ipsilateral knee in patients with large cystic OLTs.

PURPOSE

To compare clinical and radiologic outcomes between patients undergoing AOPT and those undergoing AOCT for large cystic OLTs.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Between March 2015 and March 2018, patients who underwent AOCT and AOPT to treat medial large cystic OLTs (>10 mm) were retrospectively evaluated. For comparability, the 2 groups were matched 1:1 based on their characteristics, including sex, age, body mass index, side of injury, follow-up period, and the preoperative cyst volume. After propensity score matching, 23 patients were enrolled in each group for the analysis. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the Tegner score. Donor-site morbidity was recorded according to the symptoms, including pain, stiffness, swelling, and discomfort. In addition, the Lysholm score was used to assess the most common knee donor-site morbidity. Radiologic outcomes were evaluated using the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score, and the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) score was obtained during second-look surgery.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was about 48 months. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics and lesion volumes between groups. Postoperative ankle pain VAS score, AOFAS score, and Tegner score were not significantly different between groups at final follow-up. Total donor-site morbidity (P = .004) and discomfort morbidity (P = .009) were significantly lower in the AOPT group than in the AOCT group. However, the Lysholm score showed no significant difference between the donor knee and the opposite knee (P = .503) in the AOCT group. The MOCART and ICRS scores were not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSION

Clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients who underwent AOPT from the iliac crest were found to be comparable with those of patients who underwent AOCT from the ipsilateral knee for the treatment of medial large cystic OLTs. These results may be helpful for orthopaedic surgeons to decide appropriate treatments for patients with large cystic OLTs.

Triplane osteotomy combined with talar non-weight-bearing area autologous osteochondral transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus

Background

Traditional medial malleolar osteotomy combined with autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is mostly used in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs), but with high osteotomy and donor site complications. We hypothesis a new triplane medial malleolar osteotomy combined with AOT from non-weight-bearing area of the talus could be a promising choice for OLTs.

Methods

We reviewed all the symptomatic OLTs patients who received AOT with triplane osteotomy of the medial malleolus between September 2015 and December 2017 in our department. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 23 patients (23 ankles), including 14 males and 9 females, were included in the study. The mean age was 35.6 years. The mean size of the lesion area was 141.5 mm². According Ferkel’s classification, including 5 type I, 11 typeIIa and 7 typeIIb. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain during walking and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score were used for the pre- and postoperative evaluations. In addition, the incorporation of the grafts was assessed by computed tomography (CT).

Results

All patients had a minimum follow-up of 22 months, with an average of 37.1 months. The mean time from osteotomy to full weight-bearing activity was 8.1 ± 2.3 weeks (range, 5–12 weeks). The mean VAS score improved from 5.6 ± 0.7 preoperatively to 0.7 ± 1.0 postoperatively (P < 0.01). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score improved significantly in all domains (P < 0.01). Twenty-one patients returned to sport at their previous level, and 2 returned at a lower level compared with preinjury (mean return to play, 7.4 months). According to CT, the medial malleolus recovered in all patients, and the graft was incorporated well. One patient suffered from flexor hallucis longus tendon discomfort due to internal fixation screw irritation posteromedial to the ankle. The general complication rate was 4.3% (1/23).

Conclusions

These results indicate that AOT combined with medial malleolus triplane osteotomy maybe a viable option for OLTs. Patients could perform weight-bearing exercise and return to sport as early as possible, with a lower rate of complications at the osteotomy site and donor site. However, the large sample well-designed prospective comparative studies are still needed.

Outcomes of Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation With and Without Extracellular Matrix Cartilage Allograft Augmentation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

BACKGROUND

Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) using a cylindrical graft in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) is typically indicated for patients with larger lesions. However, with lesions that are irregular in shape, the AOT graft may not completely replace the lesion. For these lesions, we utilize extracellular matrix cartilage allograft (EMCA) augmentation in AOT to act as a physiologic grout at the host-graft interface.

PURPOSE

To determine if the combination of EMCA with concentrated bone marrow aspirate (CBMA) would improve integration of the host-graft interface and subsequently reduce postoperative cyst formation after AOT. It was also hypothesized that EMCA in conjunction with CBMA would demonstrate improved MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) scores and functional outcome scores at a minimum 2 years after surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed comparing patients treated with AOT/CBMA alone and AOT with CBMA/EMCA. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score. Magnetic resonance imaging appearance was evaluated with the use of the MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) score. Cyst formation was also evaluated on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients were included in the AOT + CBMA/EMCA group (10 male, 16 female), and 34 patients were included in the AOT/CBMA group (17 male, 17 female). The mean Foot and Ankle Outcome Score significantly improved in both groups (P < .001) across all subscales (symptoms, pain, activities of daily living, sports activities, and quality of life), but there was no significant difference between groups at final follow-up. There was no significant difference in mean MOCART scores between the groups (P = .118). In the AOT/CBMA group, 3 patients (8.8%) complained of knee pain, and 1 (2.9%) required additional surgery (hardware removal). In the AOT + CBMA/EMCA group, 2 patients (7.7%) complained of knee pain, and 6 patients (23%) required additional surgery (3 hardware removals and 3 arthroscopic debridements of scar tissue in the ankle).

CONCLUSION

We found that while EMCA with CBMA has benefit in regeneration and repair of OLT treated with bone marrow stimulation, there appears to be little benefit of EMCA over CBMA alone as a physiologic grout at the graft-host interface in OLT treated with AOT.

Long-term outcome for repair of osteochondral lesions of the talus by osteochondral autograft: A series of 56 Mosaicplasties®

INTRODUCTION

The present study analyzed results in 56 osteochondral Mosaicplasty® autografts for osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) at more than 5 years' follow-up.

HYPOTHESIS

Mosaicplasty® shows long-term efficacy and low morbidity in the treatment of OLT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study included patients treated by Mosaicplasty® with more than 5 years' follow-up. Preoperative data were collected from medical files, and all patients were reassessed. AOFAS scores and FAOS were calculated at last follow-up. Imaging comprised standard radiographs and MRI or CT arthrography of the ankle.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients were included, with a mean age of 34 years (range, 18-60 years). Seventeen involved work accidents. Mean follow-up was 8.5 years (range, 5-20 years). Mean AOFAS score at follow-up was 80.6±19.4 and mean FAOS 77.8±21.5. Work accident, preoperative osteoarthritis and untreated laxity correlated significantly with poorer results. At last follow-up, 22 patients (39%) showed signs of osteoarthritis. There was no morbidity implicating the malleolar osteotomy. There were 11 cases (20%) of persistent patellar syndrome at the donor site.

DISCUSSION

The present results were comparable to those reported elsewhere, showing that functional results of Mosaicplasty® autograft for OLT do not deteriorate over the long term. Work accidents correlated significantly with poorer functional outcome. Any associated instability must always be treated. Malleolar osteotomy provides good exposure without additional morbidity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV; retrospective study.

Surgical Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are often associated with ankle pain and dysfunction. They can occur after ankle trauma, such as sprains or fractures, but they usually present as a continued ankle pain after the initial injury has resolved. Chronic ankle ligament instability and subsequent microtrauma may lead to insidious development of an OLT. Medial-sided lesions are more common (67%) than lateral-sided lesions. For acute lesions that are nondisplaced, nonoperative management is initially performed, with a 4-6 week period of immobilization and protected weight bearing. Symptomatic improvement results in more than 50% of patients by 3 months. Acute osteochondral talus fractures, which have a bone fragment thickness greater than 3 mm with displacement will benefit from early surgical intervention. These injuries should undergo primary repair via internal fixation with bioabsorbable compression screws 3.0 mm or smaller using at least 2 points of fixation. Acute lesions that are too small for fixation can be treated with morselization and reimplantation of the cartilage fragments. If OLTs are persistently symptomatic following an appropriate course of nonoperative treatment, various reparative and restorative surgical options may be considered on the basis of diameter, surface area, depth, and location of the lesion. A small subset of symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus involve subchondral pathology with intact overlying articular cartilage; in these cases, retrograde drilling into the cystic lesion can be employed to induce underlying bony healing. Cancellous bone graft augmentation may be used for subchondral cysts with volume greater than 100 mm³ or with those with a depth of more than 10 mm. Debridement, curettage, and bone marrow stimulation is a reparative technique that may be considered in lesions demonstrating a diameter less than 10 mm, with surface area less than 100 mm², and a depth less than 5 mm. This technique is commonly performed arthroscopically using curettes and an arthroscopic shaver to remove surrounding unstable cartilage. A microfracture awl of 1 mm or less is used to puncture the subchondral bone with 3-4 mm of spacing between to induce punctate bleeding. Initial (<5 year) results are good to excellent in 80% of cases, with some deterioration of improvement over time. Factors contributing to poor results include surface area greater than 1.5 cm², overall osteochondral lesion depth over 7.8 mm, smoking history, age over 40, and uncontained lesions. Lesions greater than 1.29 cm², cystic lesions, and lesions that have failed prior treatment are potential candidates for osteochondral autograft transplantation. The autograft is typically harvested from the lateral femoral condyle of the ipsilateral knee with an optimal plug depth and diameter of 12-15 mm. Transplantation often involves open technique and may even require malleolar osteotomy for perpendicular access to the defect, as well as visualization of a flush, congruent graft fit. Good to excellent outcomes have been reported in up 87.4% of cases with the most common complication being donor site morbidity in up to 15% of cases. Failure rates increased significantly in lesions larger than 225 mm². Scaffold-based therapies, such as matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation, can be employed in primary or revision settings in lesions larger than 1 cm², including uncontained shoulder lesions with or without cysts. Lesions with greater than 4 mm of bone loss following debridement may require bone grafting to augment with the scaffold. This technique requires an initial procedure for chondrocyte harvest and a secondary procedure for transplantation of the scaffold. Outcomes have been good to excellent in up to 93% of cases; however, this technique requires a two-stage procedure and can be cost-prohibitive. Particulated juvenile cartilage is a restorative technique that employs cartilage allograft from juvenile donors. The cartilage is placed into the defect and secured with fibrin glue in a single-stage procedure. Studies have shown favorable outcomes in 92% of cases, with lesions between 10 and 15 mm in diameter, but increased failure rates and poorer outcomes in lesions larger than 15 mm. This may be an alternative option for contained lesions between 10 and 15 mm in diameter. Osteochondral allograft plugs are an option for larger contained lesions (>1.5 cm in diameter) and in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and concern for donor site morbidity. Furthermore, bulk osteochondral allograft from a size-matched talus can also be used for even larger, unstable/uncontained shoulder lesions. An anterior approach is often employed and fixation is achieved via placement of countersunk headless compression screws. Failure of the aforementioned options associated with persistent pain or progressive OA would then lend consideration to ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Review on Talus Osteochondral Injuries, Including Osteochondritis Dissecans

This is a review on talus osteochondritis dissecans and talus osteochondral lesions. A majority of the osteochondral lesions are associated with trauma while the cause of pure osteochondritis dissecans is still much discussed with a possible cause being repetitive microtraumas associated with vascular disturbances causing subchondral bone necrosis and disability. Symptomatic nondisplaced osteochondral lesions can often be treated conservatively in children and adolescents while such treatment is less successful in adults. Surgical treatment is indicated when there is an unstable cartilage fragment. There are a large number of different operative technique options with no number one technique to be recommended. Most techniques have been presented in level II to IV studies with a low number of patients with short follow ups and few randomized comparisons exist. The actual situation in treating osteochondral lesions in the ankle is presented and discussed.

Design of Medical Image Detail Enhancement Algorithm for Ankle Joint Talar Osteochondral Injury

Medical imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT), have allowed medical researchers and clinicians to examine the structural and functional features of the human body, thereby assisting the clinical diagnosis. However, due to the highly controlled imaging environment, the imaging process often creates noise, which seriously affects the analysis of the medical images. In this study, a medical imaging enhancement algorithm is presented for ankle joint talar osteochondral injury. The gradient operator is used to transform the image into the gradient domain, and fuzzy entropy is employed to replace the gradient to determine the diffusion coefficient of the gradient field. The differential operator is used to discretize the image, and a partial differential enhancement model is constructed to achieve image detail enhancement. Three objective evaluation indexes, namely, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), information entropy (IE), and edge protection index (EPI), were employed to evaluate the image enhancement capability of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results show that the algorithm can better suppress noise while enhancing image details. Compared with the original image, the histogram of the transformed image is more uniform and flat and the gray level is clearer.

Primary Autologous Osteochondral Transfer Shows Superior Long-Term Outcome and Survival Rate Compared With Bone Marrow Stimulation for Large Cystic Osteochondral Lesion of Talus

PURPOSE

To compare the results of bone marrow stimulation (BMS) versus autologous osteochondral transfer (AOT) as primary surgical option for large cystic osteochondral lesion of talus (OLT) and to further distinguish factors associated with clinical failures and overall survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with symptomatic large cystic OLT (>300 mm³) who underwent either primary BMS or AOT between January 2001 and January 2016 with a minimum follow-up of 36 months. Lesion surface area and volume were measured on magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical outcomes were assessed using pain visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Survival outcomes and factors associated with clinical failures were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analyses, respectively.

RESULTS

Fifty of the total 853 patients had large cystic OLTs. Thirty-two patients underwent primary BMS, and 18 patients underwent primary AOT. Mean follow-up period was 118 months, and average lesion surface area and volume were 152.8 mm² and 850.7 mm³, respectively. The primary AOT group showed significantly superior improvements in clinical outcomes compared with the BMS group at last follow-up (P = .001). Fourteen patients in the primary BMS group and 2 patients in the primary AOT group experienced clinical failure. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a superior survival rate of primary AOT (P = .042). Syndesmosis widening (hazard ratio 12.361; P = .004) and large lesion surface area (hazard ratio 1.011; P = .014) were significant relative risks of clinical failure in the primary BMS group. However, lesion volume showed no significant relationship with clinical failure.

CONCLUSION

Long-term results of primary AOT showed superior clinical improvements and survival rate in treating large cystic OLT. Risk factors for failure in the primary BMS group were large lesion surface area and syndesmosis widening.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective comparative study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Long-term results of osteochondral autograft transplantation of the talus with a novel groove malleolar osteotomy technique

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the long-term results of osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) of talar lesions performed using a modified osteotomy technique.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study included 20 consecutive patients (11 males, 9 females; mean age 33.5±11 years; range, 15 to 56 years) (21 ankles) with osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) treated with the OAT system between August 2002 and October 2008. We performed a modified sulcus groove osteotomy, which provides better exposure of medial and central lesions. After a minimum duration of 10 years following surgery, patients’ clinical functions were evaluated according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle- hindfoot scale and visual analog scale (VAS). The Tegner-Lysholm scoring system was used to determine the levels of knee activity.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 143.5 (range, 120 to 186) months. The mean AOFAS scores significantly improved from 60.4±7.4 (range, 48 to 70) preoperatively to 86.2±9.23 (range, 60 to 94) at the last follow-up (p≤0.05). The mean ankle VAS score significantly decreased from 6.3±0.4 (range, 5 to 7) preoperatively to 2.0±1.4 (range, 0 to 4). The mean Tegner-Lysholm score for this group was 89.7±11.7 (range, 68 to 100). Revision surgery was performed in only two patients because of impingement and arthritis. Recurrent knee pain at the donor site of the osteochondral autograft was observed in three patients (14%).

Conclusion

In the present study, good to excellent results were obtained in the treatment of OLT with OAT for a minimum follow-up duration of 10 years. This novel technique can also simplify the steep learning curve, which is challenging for surgeons.

Intra-articular Injections of Hyaluronic Acid on Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus After Failed Arthroscopic Bone Marrow Stimulation

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to compare clinical and functional outcomes before and after hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus who experienced a failure of their primary treatment with arthroscopic microfracture surgery.

METHODS

A total of 40 patients were included in the final study. These patients had received microfracture surgery but continued to experience postoperative pain over an average of 13.0 months (range, 0-81 months) and were available for investigation with a mean follow-up for 29.1 months (SD 14.7; range 2.6-79.6 months). All patients received intra-articular injections of HA once per week for 3 weeks. We assessed clinical and functional outcomes before and after injection using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and the Alexander subjective scale.

RESULTS

The AOFAS score significantly increased from 50.7 ± 13.8 to 79.9 ± 13.8 and the FAOS scores for symptom, pain, daily living, and sports were significantly higher postinjection compared to preinjection (all P < .001). Similarly, the mean VAS for pain was significantly decreased after 6 weeks following injection and continued to decrease over the follow-up period; the mean VAS was significantly lower postinjection compared to preinjection at 12 months (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Intra-articular HA injections on average significantly improved clinical and functional scores after failed primary operative treatment. HA injections may provide an alternative to secondary operative treatment and provide better clinical outcomes than other conservative treatments.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, prospective observational cohort study.