scholarly journals Long-term Prognosis After Successful Nonoperative Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: An Observational 14-Year Follow-up Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 232596712092418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizzy Weigelt ◽  
Christoph J. Laux ◽  
Lukas Urbanschitz ◽  
Norman Espinosa ◽  
Georg Klammer ◽  
...  

Background: Little is known about the long-term prognosis of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) after nonoperative treatment. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiological long-term results of initially successfully treated OLTs after a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Between 1998 and 2006, 48 patients (50 ankles) with OLTs were successfully treated nonoperatively. These patients were enrolled in a retrospective long-term follow-up, for which 24 patients could not be reached or were available only by telephone. A further 2 OLTs (6%) that had been treated surgically were excluded from the analysis and documented as failures of nonoperative treatment. The final study group of 22 patients (mean age at injury, 42 years; range, 10-69 years) with 24 OLTs (mean size, 1.4 cm2; range, 0.2-3.8 cm2) underwent clinical and radiological evaluation after a mean follow-up of 14 years (range, 11-20 years). Ankle pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS), ankle function with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and sports activity with the Tegner score. Progression of ankle osteoarthritis was analyzed based on plain ankle radiographs at the initial presentation and the final follow-up according to the Van Dijk classification. Results: At final follow-up, the 24 cases (ie, ankles) showed a median VAS score of 0 (IQR, 0.0-2.25) and a median AOFAS score of 94.0 (IQR, 85.0-100). Pain had improved in 18 cases (75%), was unchanged in 3 cases (13%), and had increased in 3 cases (13%). The median Tegner score was 4.0 (IQR, 3.0-5.0). Persistent ankle pain had led to a decrease in sports activity in 38% of cases. At the final follow-up, 11 cases (73%) showed no progression of ankle osteoarthritis and 4 cases (27%) showed progression by 1 grade. Conclusion: Osteochondral lesions of the talus that successfully undergo an initial nonoperative treatment period have minimal symptoms in the long term, a low failure rate, and no relevant ankle osteoarthritis progression. However, a decrease in sports activity due to sports-related ankle pain was observed in more than one-third of patients.

Author(s):  
Quinten G. H. Rikken ◽  
Jari Dahmen ◽  
Sjoerd A. S. Stufkens ◽  
Gino M. M. J. Kerkhoffs

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011419S0005
Author(s):  
Seung-Hwan Park ◽  
Sang Gyo Seo ◽  
Ho Seong Lee

Category: Ankle, Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: The frequency of progression of osteoarthritis and persistence of symptoms in untreated osteochondral lesion of the talus (OCL) is not well known. We report the outcome of a nonoperative treatment for symptomatic OCL. Methods: This study included 142 patients with OCLs from 2003 to 2013. The patients did not undergo immobilization and had no restrictions of physical activities. The mean follow-up time was 6 (3–10) years. Initial MRI and CT confirmed OCL and showed lesion size, location, and stage of the lesion. Progression of osteoarthritis was evaluated by standing radiographs. In 83 patients, CT was performed at the final follow-up for analyses of the lesion size. We surveyed patients for limitations of sports activity, and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), AOFAS, and SF-36 were assessed. Results: No patients had progression of osteoarthritis. The lesion size as determined by CT did not change in 69/83 patients, decreased in 5, and increased in 9. The mean VAS score of the 142 patients decreased from 3.8 to 0.9 (p < 0.001), the mean AOFAS ankle–hindfoot score increased from 86 to 93 (p < 0.001), and the mean SF-36 score increased from 52 to 72 (p < 0.001). Only 9 patients reported limitations of sports activity. The size and location of the lesion did not correlate with any of the outcome scores. Conclusion: Nonoperative treatment can be considered a good option for patients with OCL.


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 985-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Pagenstert ◽  
André Leumann ◽  
Beat Hintermann ◽  
Victor Valderrabano

Background: Realignment-surgery to unload ankle osteoarthritis (OA) has been proposed as treatment alternative for varus and valgus ankle OA. Sports activity after this procedure has not been analyzed. Realignment-surgery increases sports activity. Sports activity correlates with ankle pain, function, and alignment, but does not influence revision rate. Materials and Methods: Prospective case series of 35 consecutive patients with post-traumatic varus or valgus ankle OA limited to half tibiotalar joint surface were treated by OA unloading realignment-surgery. Distal tibia osteotomy was used in all cases; additional osteotomies, tendon, ligament procedures in 92% of cases. Main Outcome Measurements: Pain (visual-analogue-scale; VAS), ankle range-of-motion (ROM); function (American-Orthopaedic-Foot-and-Ankle-Society (AOFAS) ankle-score; Swiss-symptom-related-Ankle-Activity-Scale (SAAS); Sports-Frequency-Score (SFS), OA and tibiotalar-alignment-grade (Takakura-Score), and revision surgery. Mean followup was 5 years. Results: Mean values from preoperative to followup: VAS decreased ( p = 0.0001) 4 points; ankle ROM increased ( p = 0.001) 5 degrees; AOFAS-Score increased ( p = 0.0001) 46 points; SAAS increased ( p = 0.0001) 42 points; SFS increased ( p = 0.02) 0.5 grades; Takakura-score decreased ( p = 0.0001) 1.0 grades. Revision surgery was performed in 10 cases (29%). Three of these were revised to ankle arthroplasty. At follow-up, SAAS correlated with VAS, AOFAS score, Takakura score, and not with ROM or SFS. SFS did not correlate with other variables. Patients needing revision surgery had a higher ( p = 0.003) SFS than patients who needed no revision. Conclusion: Realignment-surgery increased sports activity of ankle OA patients. Improved ankle pain and function correlated with ability to perform activity without symptoms; however, sports frequency had no correlation to patients' symptoms but showed higher revision rate. Level of Evidence: II, Prospective Comparative Study


Author(s):  
Kaj T. A. Lambers ◽  
Jari Dahmen ◽  
J. Nienke Altink ◽  
Mikel L. Reilingh ◽  
Christiaan J. A. van Bergen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Although bone marrow stimulation (BMS) as a treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLT) shows high rates of sport resumption at short-term follow-up, it is unclear whether the sports activity is still possible at longer follow-up. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate sports activity after arthroscopic BMS at long-term follow-up. Methods Sixty patients included in a previously published randomized-controlled trial were analyzed in the present study. All patients had undergone arthroscopic debridement and BMS for OCLT. Return to sports, level, and type were assessed in the first year post-operative and at final follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were assessed by standardized questionnaires with use of numeric rating scales for pain and satisfaction and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Results The mean follow-up was 6.4 years (SD ± 1.1 years). The mean level of activity measured with the AAS was 6.2 pre-injury and 3.4 post-injury. It increased to 5.2 at 1 year after surgery and was 5.8 at final follow-up. At final follow-up, 54 patients (90%) participated in 16 different sports. Thirty-three patients (53%) indicated they returned to play sport at their pre-injury level. Twenty patients (33%) were not able to obtain their pre-injury level of sport because of ankle problems and eight other patients (13%) because of other reasons. Mean NRS for pain during rest was 2.7 pre-operative, 1.1 at 1 year, and 1.0 at final follow-up. Mean NRS during activity changed from 7.9 to 3.7 to 4.4, respectively. The FAOS scores improved at 1 year follow-up, but all subscores significantly decreased at final follow-up. Conclusion At long-term follow-up (mean 6.4 years) after BMS for OCLT, 90% of patients still participate in sports activities, of whom 53% at pre-injury level. The AAS of the patients participating in sports remains similar pre-injury and post-operatively at final follow-up. A decrease over time in clinical outcomes was, however, seen when the follow-up scores at 1 year post-operatively were compared with the final follow-up. Level of evidence Level II.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0051
Author(s):  
Lizzy Weigelt ◽  
Christian Pfirrmann ◽  
Stephan Wirth

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) has recently become an interesting treatment option for osteochondral lesions of the talus since it combines safety and efficacy with overcoming several drawbacks of other surgical techniques. With AMIC, donor side morbidity of osteochondral autografts is eliminated, two-step procedures like matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation are minimized to a more cost-effective single step and restrictions due to limited availability of osteochondral allografts are resolved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of AMIC by analyzing AMIC-repaired osteochondral talar lesions in consecutively treated patients after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Methods: All patients with an osteochondral lesion of the talus treated with the AMIC technique completing a minimum follow-up of 2 years were enrolled in the study for clinical and radiological follow-up. Patients with additional procedures such as lateral ligament reconstruction or corrective calcaneal osteotomy were excluded. 31 of the 47 eligible patients (28 males, 13 females; mean age at surgery 35.7 (range, 13-75) years); body mass index 27.1+-4.7 kg/m2) could be retrospectively evaluated after a mean follow-up of 4.6 (range, 2.3-7.9) years. The preoperative defect size was 0.9+-0.5 (range 0.4-2.3) cm2. Only two osteochondral lesions were localized laterally. Data analysis included general demographics, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score for ankle function, the Tegner Score for sports activity, and the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system for radiological evaluation. Results: The VAS improved significantly from 6.5+-2.0 preoperatively to 1.5+-2.2 at follow-up (p<0.001). The mean AOFAS score was 93.0+-8.2 (range, 74-100) points. The sports activity level improved significantly from 3.5+-1.8 points preoperatively to 4.9+-1.8 points at follow-up (p<0.001), but 29% did not reach their pre-injury level of activity. The MOCART score averaged 61.5+-21.2 (range, 0-95) points. Complete filling of the defect was seen in 41%, hypertrophy of the cartilage layer in 53%. Normal or nearly normal signal intensity was detected in 67%. All patients showed subchondral bone edema or cysts. The MRI findings did not correlate with the clinical outcome. 91% were satisfied with the outcome and would undergo the same procedure again. Conclusion: AMIC is a reliable procedure to treat osteochondral lesions of the talus. Significant pain reduction and high ankle function were observed after a mean midterm follow-up of 4.5 years. MRI findings did not reflect the good clinical results and therefore should only be performed to rule out other pathologies that might cause persistent symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712199491
Author(s):  
Alberto Grassi ◽  
Gian Andrea Lucidi ◽  
Giuseppe Filardo ◽  
Piero Agostinone ◽  
Luca Macchiarola ◽  
...  

Background: The collagen meniscal implant (CMI) is a biologic scaffold aimed at replacing partial meniscal defects. The long-term results of lateral meniscal replacement have never been investigated. Purpose: To document the clinical outcomes and failures of lateral CMI implantation for partial lateral meniscal defect at a minimum 10-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4, Methods: This study included 24 consecutive patients who underwent lateral CMI implantation for partial lateral meniscal defects between April 2006 and September 2009 and who were part of a previous study with a 2-year follow-up. Outcome measures at the latest follow-up included the Lysholm score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Tegner activity level, and EuroQol 5-Dimensions score. Data regarding complications and failures were collected, and patients were asked about their satisfaction with the procedure. Results: Included in the final analysis were 19 patients (16 male, 3 female) with a mean age at surgery of 37.1 ± 12.6 years and a mean follow-up of 12.4 ± 1.5 years (range, 10-14 years). Five failures (26%) were reported: 1 CMI removal because of implant breakage and 4 joint replacements (2 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties and 2 total knee arthroplasties). The implant survival rate was 96% at 2 years, 85% at 5 years, 85% at 10 years, 77% at 12 years, and 64% at 14 years. Lysholm scores at the final follow-up were rated as “excellent” in 36% (5 of 14 nonfailures), “good” in 43% (6 of 14), and “fair” in 21% (3 of 14). The VAS score was 3.1 ± 3.1, with only 16% (3 of 19 patients) reporting that they were pain-free; the median Tegner score was 3 (interquartile range, 2-5). All clinical scores decreased from the 2-year follow-up; however, with the exception of the Tegner score, they remained significantly higher compared with the preoperative status. Overall, 79% of patients were willing to undergo the same procedure. Conclusion: Lateral CMI implantation for partial lateral meniscal defects provided good long-term results, with a 10-year survival rate of 85% and a 14-year survival rate of 64%. At the final follow-up, 58% of the patients had “good” or “excellent” Lysholm scores. However, there was a general decrease in outcome scores between the short- and the long-term follow-up.


2021 ◽  
pp. 107110072199542
Author(s):  
Daniel Corr ◽  
Jared Raikin ◽  
Joseph O’Neil ◽  
Steven Raikin

Background: Microfracture is the most common reparative surgery for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). While shown to be effective in short- to midterm outcomes, the fibrocartilage that microfracture produces is both biomechanically and biologically inferior to that of native hyaline cartilage and is susceptible to possible deterioration over time following repair. With orthobiologics being proposed to augment repair, there exists a clear gap in the study of long-term clinical outcomes of microfracture to determine if this added expense is necessary. Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing microfracture of an OLT with a single fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon from 2007 to 2009 was performed. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were contacted to complete the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Sports subscales and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, as well as surveyed regarding their satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure and their likelihood to recommend the procedure to a friend with the same problem using 5-point Likert scales. Patient demographics were reviewed and included for statistical analysis. Results: Of 45 respondents, 3 patients required additional surgery on their ankle for the osteochondral defect, yielding a 10-year survival rate of 93.3%. Of surviving cases, 90.4% (38/42) reported being “extremely satisfied” or “satisfied” with the outcome of the procedure. The VAS score at follow-up averaged 14 out of 100 (range, 0-75), while the FAAM-ADL and FAAM-Sports scores averaged 90.29 out of 100 and 82 out of 100, respectively. Thirty-six patients (85.7%) stated that their ankle did not prevent them from participating in the sports of their choice. Conclusion: The current study represents a minimum 10-year follow-up of patients undergoing isolated arthroscopic microfracture for talar osteochondral defects, with a 93.3% survival rate and 85.7% return to sport. While biological adjuvants may play a role in improving the long-term outcomes of microfracture procedures, larger and longer-term follow-up studies are required for procedures using orthobiologics before their cost can be justified for routine use. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective cohort case series study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Seon Lee ◽  
Joong-Gon Kim ◽  
Soyoung Lee

AbstractChildhood-onset polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare and systemic necrotising vasculitis in children affecting small- to medium-sized arteries. To date, there have been only a few reports because of its rarity. Thus, we aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and long-term outcomes in patients with childhood-onset PAN and to evaluate the usefulness of the paediatric vasculitis activity score (PVAS). We retrospectively analysed the data of nine patients with childhood-onset PAN from March 2003 to February 2020. The median ages at symptom onset, diagnosis, and follow-up duration were 7.6 (3–17.5), 7.7 (3.5–17.6), and 7.0 (1.6–16.3) years, respectively. All patients had constitutional symptoms and skin manifestations, while five exhibited Raynaud’s phenomenon. Organ involvement was observed in one patient. The median PVAS at diagnosis was 7 (range: 2–32). Prednisolone was initially used for induction in all patients, and other drugs were added in cases refractory to prednisolone. All patients survived, but three patients with high PVAS at diagnosis experienced irreversible sequelae, including intracranial haemorrhage and digital amputation. In conclusion, early diagnosis and treatment may minimise sequelae in patients with childhood-onset PAN. This study suggests that high PVAS score at diagnosis may be associated with poor prognosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Frédéric Bouisset ◽  
Jean-Bernard Ruidavets ◽  
Jean Dallongeville ◽  
Marie Moitry ◽  
Michele Montaye ◽  
...  

Background: Available data comparing long-term prognosis according to the type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scarce, contradictory, and outdated. Our aim was to compare short- and long-term mortality in ST-elevated (STEMI) and non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) ACS patients. Methods: Patients presenting with an inaugural ACS during the year 2006 and living in one of the three areas in France covered by the Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) registry were included. Results: A total of 1822 patients with a first ACS—1121 (61.5%) STEMI and 701 (38.5%) non-STEMI—were included in the study. At the 28-day follow-up, the mortality rates were 6.7% and 4.7% (p = 0.09) for STEMI and non-STEMI patients, respectively, and after adjustment of potential confounding factors, the 28-day probability of death was significantly lower for non-STEMI ACS patients (Odds Ratio = 0.58 (0.36–0.94), p = 0.03). At the 10-year follow-up, the death rates were 19.6% and 22.8% (p = 0.11) for STEMI and non-STEMI patients, respectively, and after adjustment of potential confounding factors, the 10-year probability of death did not significantly differ between non-STEMI and STEMI events (OR = 1.07 (0.83–1.38), p = 0.59). Over the first year, the mortality rate was 7.2%; it then decreased and stabilized at 1.7% per year between the 2nd and 10th year following ACS. Conclusion: STEMI patients have a worse vital prognosis than non-STEMI patients within 28 days following ACS. However, at the 10-year follow-up, STEMI and non-STEMI patients have a similar vital prognosis. From the 2nd year onwards following the occurrence of a first ACS, the patients become stable coronary artery disease patients with an annual mortality rate in the 2% range, regardless of the type of ACS they initially present with.


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