scholarly journals Evaluation and Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Cartilage ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Looze ◽  
Jason Capo ◽  
Michael K. Ryan ◽  
John P. Begly ◽  
Cary Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Subchondral Bone ◽  
Hyaline Cartilage ◽  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Osteochondral Allograft ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Ankle Sprains ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Chondrocyte Implantation

Osteochondral lesions of the talus are common injuries that affect a wide variety of active patients. The majority of these lesions are associated with ankle sprains and fractures though several nontraumatic etiologies have also been recognized. Patients normally present with a history of prior ankle injury and/or instability. In addition to standard ankle radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are used to characterize the extent of the lesion and involvement of the subchondral bone. Symptomatic nondisplaced lesions can often be treated conservatively within the pediatric population though this treatment is less successful in adults. Bone marrow stimulation techniques such as microfracture have yielded favorable results for the treatment of small (<15 mm) lesions. Osteochondral autograft can be harvested most commonly from the ipsilateral knee and carries the benefit of repairing defects with native hyaline cartilage. Osteochondral allograft transplant is reserved for large cystic lesions that lack subchondral bone integrity. Cell-based repair techniques such as autologous chondrocyte implantation and matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation have been increasingly used in an attempt to repair the lesion with hyaline cartilage though these techniques require adequate subchondral bone. Biological agents such as platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate have been more recently studied as an adjunct to operative treatment but their use remains theoretical. The present article reviews the current concepts in the evaluation and management of osteochondral lesions of the talus, with a focus on the available surgical treatment options.

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

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.

scholarly journals A Review of Arthroscopic Bone Marrow Stimulation Techniques of the Talus

Cartilage ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Murawski ◽  
Li Foong Foo ◽  
John G. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Spin Echo ◽  
T2 Mapping ◽  
Fast Spin Echo ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Ankle Sprains ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Over Time

Osteochondral lesions of the talus are common injuries following acute and chronic ankle sprains. Numerous surgical treatment strategies have been employed for treating these lesions; arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation is recognized as the first-line technique to provide fibrocartilage infill of the defect site. While the short- and medium-term outcomes of this technique are good, the long-term outcomes are not yet known. An increasing number of studies, however, show a cause for concern in employing this technique, including declining outcome scores over time. The current authors have therefore developed a treatment strategy based on previously established guidelines in addition to morphological cartilage-sensitive fast spin echo techniques and quantitative T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Accordingly, the authors advocate arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation in lesion sizes up to 8 mm in diameter and osteochondral autograft transplant (OATS) in lesion sizes greater than 8 mm in diameter. In the absence of long-term studies, confining the use of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation to smaller lesions may support prolonged joint life by decreasing the rate at which the fibrocartilage ultimately degenerates over time. Employing the OATS procedure in larger lesions has the advantage of replacing “like with like.” The current review examines the role of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation techniques of the talus.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 414-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Savage-Elliott ◽  
Keir A. Ross ◽  
Niall A. Smyth ◽  
Christopher D. Murawski ◽  
John G. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Osteochondral Lesion ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Marrow Stimulation

Osteochondral lesions of the talar dome are increasingly diagnosed and are a difficult pathology to treat. Conservative treatment yields best results in pediatric patients, often leaving surgical options for adult populations. There is a paucity of long-term data and comparisons of treatment options. Arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation is a common first-line treatment for smaller lesions. Despite promising short to medium term clinical results, bone marrow stimulation results in fibrocartilagenous tissue that incurs differing mechanical and biological properties compared with normal cartilage. Autologous osteochondral transplantation has demonstrated promising clinical results in the short to medium term for larger, cystic lesions and can restore the contact pressure of the joint. However, concerns remain over postoperative cyst formation and donor site morbidity. Recent developments have emphasized the usefulness of biological adjuncts such as platelet-rich plasma and concentrated bone marrow aspirate, as well as particulate juvenile cartilage, in augmenting reparative and replacement strategies in osteochondral lesion treatment. The purpose of this article is to review diagnosis and treatment of talar osteochondral lesions so that current practice guidelines can be more efficiently used given the available treatment strategies. A treatment paradigm based on current evidence is described.Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level V, Expert Opinion

scholarly journals Satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes after bone marrow stimulation of osteochondral lesions of the talus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinten G. H. Rikken ◽  
Jari Dahmen ◽  
Sjoerd A. S. Stufkens ◽  
Gino M. M. J. Kerkhoffs
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Degenerative Changes ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Ankle Osteoarthritis ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Marrow Stimulation ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) at long-term follow-up. Methods A literature search was conducted from the earliest record until March 2021 to identify studies published using the PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane Library databases. Clinical studies reporting on arthroscopic BMS for OLTs at a minimum of 8-year follow-up were included. The review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two authors independently conducted the article selection and conducted the quality assessment using the Methodological index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS). The primary outcome was defined as clinical outcomes consisting of pain scores and patient-reported outcome measures. Secondary outcomes concerned the return to sport rate, reoperation rate, complication rate, and the rate of progression of degenerative changes within the tibiotalar joint as a measure of ankle osteoarthritis. Associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated based on the primary and secondary outcome measures. Results Six studies with a total of 323 ankles (310 patients) were included at a mean pooled follow-up of 13.0 (9.5–13.9) years. The mean MINORS score of the included studies was 7.7 out of 16 points (range 6–9), indicating a low to moderate quality. The mean postoperative pooled American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 83.8 (95% CI 83.6–84.1). 78% (95% CI 69.5–86.8) participated in sports (at any level) at final follow-up. Return to preinjury level of sports was not reported. Reoperations were performed in 6.9% (95% CI 4.1–9.7) of ankles and complications related to the BMS procedure were observed in 2% (95% CI 0.4–3.0) of ankles. Progression of degenerative changes was observed in 28% (95% CI 22.3–33.2) of ankles. Conclusion Long-term clinical outcomes following arthroscopic BMS can be considered satisfactory even though one in three patients show progression of degenerative changes from a radiological perspective. These findings indicate that OLTs treated with BMS may be at risk of progressing towards end-stage ankle osteoarthritis over time in light of the incremental cartilage damage cascade. The findings of this study can aid clinicians and patients with the shared decision-making process when considering the long-term outcomes of BMS. Level of evidence Level IV.

scholarly journals Sporting participation following the operative management of chondral defects of the knee at mid-term follow up: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Robinson ◽  
T. Williamson ◽  
I. R. Murray ◽  
K. Al-Hourani ◽  
T. O. White
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation ◽  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Osteochondral Allograft ◽  
Chondral Defects ◽  
Chondrocyte Implantation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Autologous Chondrocyte

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the reparticipation in sport at mid-term follow up in athletes who underwent biologic treatment of chondral defects in the knee and compare the rates amongst different biologic procedures. Methods A search of PubMed/Medline and Embase was performed in May 2020 in keeping with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The criteria for inclusion were observational, published research articles studying the outcomes and rates of participation in sport following biologic treatments of the knee with a minimum mean/median follow up of 5 years. Interventions included microfracture, osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), osteochondral allograft, or platelet rich plasma (PRP) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). A random effects model of head-to-head evidence was used to determine rates of sporting participation following each intervention. Results There were twenty-nine studies which met the inclusion criteria with a total of 1276 patients (67% male, 33% female). The mean age was 32.8 years (13–69, SD 5.7) and the mean follow up was 89 months (SD 42.4). The number of studies reporting OAT was 8 (27.6%), ACI was 6 (20.7%), MACI was 7 (24.1%), microfracture was 5 (17.2%), osteochondral allograft was 4 (13.8%), and one study (3.4%) reported on PRP and PBSC. The overall return to any level of sport was 80%, with 58.6% returning to preinjury levels. PRP and PBSC (100%) and OAT (84.4%) had the highest rates of sporting participation, followed by allograft (83.9%) and ACI (80.7%). The lowest rates of participation were seen following MACI (74%) and microfracture (64.2%). Conclusions High rates of re-participation in sport are sustained for at least 5 years following biologic intervention for chondral injuries in the knee. Where possible, OAT should be considered as the treatment of choice when prolonged participation in sport is a priority for patients. However, MACI may achieve the highest probability of returning to the same pre-injury sporting level. Level of evidence IV

scholarly journals Impact of Early Weightbearing After Ankle Arthroscopy and Bone Marrow Stimulation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596712110298
Author(s):  
Richard M. Danilkowicz ◽  
Nathan L. Grimm ◽  
Gloria X. Zhang ◽  
Thomas A. Lefebvre ◽  
Brian Lau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Osteochondral Lesion ◽  
Ankle Arthroscopy ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Cartilage Defects ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Marrow Stimulation

Background: Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) may be caused by osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral fractures, avascular necrosis, or focal arthritic changes. For certain focal cartilage defects, bone marrow stimulation (BMS) has been a widely used technique to restore a fibrocartilage substitute overlying the defect. There are various postoperative weightbearing protocols for this procedure, with no single gold standard method. Purpose: To retrospectively review the outcomes of patients undergoing ankle arthroscopy with concomitant BMS to determine outcomes based on postoperative weightbearing status. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent ankle arthroscopy with BMS for OLTs between 2015 and 2018. Patients were placed into 2 cohorts based on postoperative immobilization status: the nonweightbearing (NWB) group and the weightbearing-as-tolerated (WBAT) group. Patient characteristics obtained included age, sex, comorbidities, and etiology of talar pathology. Outcomes included the pain visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), complications, time to first weightbearing, and the method and length of immobilization. Patients who were lost to follow-up before 30 days were excluded. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between cohorts, and the t test was used for continuous variables. Results: A total of 69 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, 18 in the WBAT group and 51 in the NWB group. The mean lesion size was 9.48 × 9.21 mm (range, 3-15 mm × 2-20 mm) for the NWB group and 9.36 × 9.72 mm (range, 5-14 mm × 6-20 mm) for the WBAT group ( P > .05). The VAS scores improved from 4.40 to 0.67 for the WBAT group and from 6.33 to 2.55 for the NWB group, with the difference in final values reaching statistical significance ( P = .0002). Postoperative ROM was not significantly different between the groups. There were 4 repeat operations within the NWB cohort. Conclusion: The surgical management of OLTs can be challenging, and the postoperative weightbearing protocol can be an extra obstacle for the patient to navigate. We found no difference in pain, ROM, or complications when allowing immediate, full WBAT.

Relationship Between Bone Marrow Lesions on MRI and Cartilage Degeneration in Osteochondral Lesions of the Talar Dome

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 908-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoyuki Nakasa ◽  
Yasunari Ikuta ◽  
Mikiya Sawa ◽  
Masahiro Yoshikawa ◽  
Yusuke Tsuyuguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Subchondral Bone ◽  
Cartilage Degeneration ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Talar Dome ◽  
Mankin Score ◽  
Osteochondral Fragment ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Cartilage ◽  
Ct And Mri

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.

scholarly journals Long-term Outcomes of Microfracture for Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011420S0017
Author(s):  
Daniel Corr ◽  
Jared Raikin ◽  
Joseph T. O’Neil ◽  
Steven M. Raikin
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Osteochondral Lesions ◽  
Treatment Technique ◽  
Foot And Ankle ◽  
Bone Marrow Stimulation ◽  
Time Of Surgery ◽  
Patient Demographics ◽  
Marrow Stimulation

Category: Ankle; Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: Bone marrow stimulation procedures, specifically microfracture, have become a common treatment technique for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). Such procedures have been shown to be effective among a variety of patient populations at postoperative time points up to about 5 years (references?). While microfracture has been shown to be effective in short- to medium-term follow-up, there is a paucity of literature demonstrating the long-term efficacy of this procedure. Recently, the development of additional treatment techniques has been explored, with deterioration of the resultant fibrocartilage being a particular concern with microfracture. The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term effectiveness of microfracture bone marrow stimulation for treatment of OLTs in patients at least 10 years removed from surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing microfracture of an OLT with a single fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon at least 10 years prior was performed. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were contacted to complete the Foot & Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Sports subscales, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, as well as surveyed regarding their satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure using a 5-point Likert scale. In addition to medical chart review, patients were asked directly over the phone about any subsequent foot and ankle procedures needed, any injections necessary, and whether they wore an ankle brace/orthotic in the time following the procedure. Patient demographics including sex, age at time of surgery, laterality of surgery, and surgical history following their index procedure were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were calculated for patient demographics and survey responses to assess functional outcomes. Results: Forty-two patients were contacted and completed postoperative surveys. Average patient age at the time of the procedure was 38.6 years, and 24 patients (57%) were male. On average, FAAM-ADL score was 86.57 (+-20.85), Sports score was 72.31 (+-30.48), and VAS pain score was 19.52 (scale of 0-100). Patients reported being satisfied with the outcome of the procedure in 35 of 42 cases (83.3%). Five patients (11.9%) had other foot/ankle procedures since their microfracture, with 3 directly addressing the talus in some fashion. Three patients (7.1%) received injection(s) in their ankle in the follow-up period, and 9 patients (21.4%) reported wearing a brace since the time of surgery with 6 patients (14.3%) reporting it as a direct relation to their OLT and surgery. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that microfracture is an effective functional treatment for OLT in the long term, and addresses the valid questions posed about the ability for the procedure to produce durable fibrocartilage. Patients report average functional and pain assessment scores at the 10-year postoperative mark consistent with a generally successful and effective treatment.

scholarly journals Fresh Allograft Replacement for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document