Effects of Early Weightbearing on Microfracture Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of Talus with Subchondral Bone Defects

Background: In the evaluation of osteochondral lesions of the talar dome (OLT), bone marrow lesions (BML) are commonly observed in the subchondral bone on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the significance of BML, such as the histology of the overlying cartilage, is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the BML and cartilage degeneration in OLT. Methods: Thirty-three ankles with OLT were included in this study. All ankles underwent CT and MRI and had operative treatment. The ankles were divided into 2 groups, depending on the presence of bone sclerosis (ie, with or without) in the host bone just below the osteochondral fragment (nonsclerosis group and sclerosis group). The area of BML was compared between the 2 groups. Biopsies of the osteochondral fragment from 20 ankles were performed during surgery, and the correlation between the BML and cartilage degeneration was analyzed. The remaining 13 ankles had the CT and MRI compared with the arthroscopic findings. Results: The mean area of BML in the nonsclerosis group was significantly larger than that in the sclerosis group. In the histologic analysis, there was a significant and moderate correlation between the Mankin score and the area of BML. The mean Mankin score in the nonsclerosis group was significantly lower than that in the sclerosis group. Conclusions: This study revealed that a large area of BML on MRI exhibited low degeneration of cartilage of the osteochondral fragment, while a small area of BML indicated sclerosis of the subchondral bone with severe degeneration of cartilage. The evaluation of BML may predict the cartilage condition of the osteochondral fragment. Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative series.

Download Full-text

Effect of subchondral bone sclerosis in repair tissue after bone marrow stimulation for osteochondral talar lesions

Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics ◽

10.1177/2473011418s00525 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 2473011418S0052

Author(s):

Ichiro Yoshimura ◽

Tomonobu Hagio ◽

Kazuki Kanazawa ◽

Masahiro Suzuki ◽

Takuaki Yamamoto

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Cartilage Tissue ◽

Osteochondral Lesions ◽

Lesion Length ◽

Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽

Repair Tissue ◽

Marrow Stimulation ◽

Bone Sclerosis ◽

The Relationship

Category: Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: The arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (ABMS) technique is the first-line procedure for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). Recently, T2 mapping was used to evaluate repair cartilage tissue, but the prognostic factors for T2 values after ABMS have never been clarified. Some patients have OLT with sclerotic changes in the subchondral bone, and several articles have suggested that the subchondral bone condition affects the condition of the articular cartilage. Furthermore, subchondral bone sclerosis (SBC) was found to be associated with an inferior outcome after ABMS.The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between subchondral bone sclerotic changes and repair tissue T2 values on MRI after ABMS. Methods: Twenty ankles in 20 patients treated with ABMS for OLT were evaluated. The patients included 7 males and 13 females (age, 30.52±21.44 years, lesion length 10.4±3.0mm, lesion area 55.7±26.5mm2). Repair tissue was assessed using a 3T MRI unit, and T2 maps were calculated at the one-year post-ABMS follow up. The patients were divided into two groups; with SBC and without SBC on pre-ABMS CT images. We investigated the relationship between T2 values and SBC. Clinical results were measured using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. Results: No significant mean differences were found in T2 values or JSSF scores between the with SBC and without SBC groups post-ABMS (T2 values; 48.2±3.3ms vs. 50.1±2.9ms, P=0.7 / JSSF scale score; 89.4±5.8 points vs. 93.3±8.2 points, P=0.25). Lesion length was correlated with the T2 values of repair tissue (Length; r=0.3 P=0.01). Age and BMI were not significantly correlated with T2 values of the repair tissue. Conclusion: The presence of SBC prior to ABMS did not affect the T2 values of repair tissue after ABMS. However, we believe that lesion size affected the condition of the repair tissue.

Download Full-text

Fresh Allograft Replacement for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics ◽

10.1177/2473011418s00137 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 2473011418S0013

Author(s):

Samuel Adams ◽

Nicholas Allen ◽

James Nunley ◽

Mark Easley

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Cartilage Repair ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Bone Destruction ◽

Osteochondral Allograft ◽

Osteochondral Lesions ◽

Normal Cartilage ◽

Allograft Transplantation ◽

Fresh Osteochondral Allograft ◽

Osteochondral Allografts

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Large osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) can be difficult to treat. Although many treatment options exist, fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation has demonstrated promise as the primary treatment for OLTs with substantial cartilage and bone involvement as well as a secondary treatment option after failure of other cartilage repair techniques. Fresh osteochondral allografts are size-matched from organ donors and, in theory, have healthy articular cartilage and bone. However, the quality of allograft cartilage and bone has never been examined with respect to the OLT cartilage and bone being replaced. The purpose of this study was to perform a matched comparison of the cartilage and bone from patients OLTs to the fresh osteochondral allograft replacement. Methods: Discarded intact osteochondral specimens were collected from 8 patients undergoing surgery for an OLT. The specimens included the excised OLT and a portion of the fresh allograft replacement that the same patient received at the time of surgery. Histologic analysis was performed. The safranin-o histology was then scored using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) histopathology grading and staging system. In this system the grade determines cartilage and bone destruction on a scale of 0 to 6.5, the stage determines the percentage of involvement in the specimen on a scale of 0 to 4, and the total score is the grade multiplied by the stage. The surface roughness was also compared between the OLT and allograft cartilage using ImageJ software (NIH). Paired t-tests were performed on the ICRS grade, stage, and total score, and surface roughness comparing the OLTs and allografts. Significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Gross histological inspection of the samples demonstrated cartilage erosion and subchondral bone destruction in the OLTs. In constrast, the osteochondral allografts demonstrated intact cartilage surface and normal subchondral bone in the allografts (Figure 1). The ICRS grade, stage, and total score were significantly higher in the implanted allografts compared to the resected OLTs (Figure 2); indicating better cartilage and bone morphology for the allografts compared to the OLTs. In fact, the mean grade and stage for the allograft samples were both less than a score of 1 which corresponds to healthy cartilage and bone with less than 10% surface fibrillations. Moreover, the surface roughness of the allograft cartilage was significantly smoother than the OLT cartilage. Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate that the use of fresh allograft transplantation for the treatment of OLTs replaces the damaged cartilage and bone with normal or near normal cartilage and bone. The replacement of damaged cartilage and subchondral bone with normal or near normal cartilage and bone may be the reason for improved pain relief and functional outcomes after fresh allograft transplantation for OLTs.

Download Full-text

The Role of Demineralized Allograft Subchondral Bone in the Treatment of Talar Cystic OCD Lesions That Have Failed Microfracture

Foot & Ankle Specialist ◽

10.1177/1938640014531984 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 377-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Stephen A. Brigido ◽

Nicole M. Protzman ◽

Melissa M. Galli ◽

Scott T. Bleazey

Keyword(s):

Subchondral Bone ◽

Case Series ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Osteochondral Lesions ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Medial Malleolar Osteotomy ◽

And Function ◽

Bone Plug

Cystic talar shoulder defects are particularly challenging osteochondral lesions. A retrospective chart review was performed on 13 adults that previously failed microfracture, presented with medial cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus, and were treated with malleolar osteotomy and subchondral allograft reconstruction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a medial malleolar osteotomy and allograft subchondral bone plug on pain and function. We hypothesized that following surgery, pain and function would significantly improve. Compared with preoperative measures, pain (first step in the morning, during walking, at the end of the day) and function (descending the stairs, ascending the stairs, and ambulating up to 4 blocks) improved postoperatively at 6 and 12 months ( P ≤ .001). During each activity, pain improved postoperatively from 6 to 12 months ( P ≤ .006). Postoperatively, from 6 to 12 months, the level of disability improved while descending the stairs ( P = .004), and the level of disability experienced while ascending the stairs and ambulating up to 4 blocks was maintained ( P ≥ .02). Multiple regression analyses identified body mass index as a predictor of preoperative function ( R2 = .34, P = .04). No variables were identified as significant predictors of postoperative pain or function. With all osteotomies healing, no graft rejection, and a single deep venous thrombosis, allograft subchondral plugs appear to successfully treat osteochondral lesions of the talus with improvements in pain and function as well as an acceptable complication rate. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Retrospective Case Series.

Download Full-text