Correlation between EFAS- and MOCART score and clinical outcome after AMIC®-procedure for osteochondral lesion of the talus

INTRODUCTION

Even though an increased interest in the use of the EFAS Score (European Foot and Ankle Society) has been observed, no data comparing it with radiological findings has been presented in the literature. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to investigate how the post-operative integration of the AMIC^® (autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis)-membrane for osteochondral lesion of the talus using the MOCART (Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue) - Score is related to the clinical satisfaction of the patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A group of 24 patients aged between 17 and 63 (with a mean age of 35.7) were included at least 1 year post-operatively. They had all undergone an AMIC^®-procedure of the talus. MRI findings using the MOCART Score were correlated to the EFAS Score at the same time point.

RESULTS

Our main results showed no correlation between the MOCART-Score and the EFAS-Score (R = - 0.08). There was also no correlation between the MOCART-Score, the FFI-Score (Foot and Function Index) (R = 0.2) and the MOXFQ-Score (Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire) (R = 0.12). There was no correlation between components of the MOCART-Score with the EFAS-Score (R between - 0.32 and 0.23).

CONCLUSION

Our results question whether the MRI (a standard part of AMIC^®-procedure-of-the-ankle post-operative follow-up) is still the most appropriate tool for post-operative control. They also offer a starting point for future discussion regarding the need for post-operative MRI and the use of other radiological diagnostics in relation to clinical satisfaction.

Evaluation and Validation of the Dutch European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) Score

The European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) score is a recently developed foot and ankle patient-reported outcome measure. It has been developed and partly validated in seven languages. This study's aim was to investigate the measurement properties of the Dutch version of the EFAS score. Subscales of the Dutch EFAS score were evaluated in 547 patients with a variety of foot and ankle diagnoses. Floor and ceiling effect, reliability, and construct validity were assessed. The internal consistency of the EFAS score was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha 0.79-0.94). Repeatability was considered poor, with intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.32 and 0.39. Construct validity was inadequate with confirmation of 67% of the hypothesized correlations. In conclusion, the Dutch version of the EFAS score does not have adequate measurement properties for use in patient with patients with varying foot and ankle problems.