Early determinants of long-term clinical outcome after cartilage repair surgery in the knee

Abstract

PurposeTo identify early determinants of clinical outcome after knee cartilage repair. Methods205 patients were evaluated before surgery and at median 14-years follow-up. ResultsBaseline factors predicting a good outcome were: single lesion; normal appearing cartilage surrounding the lesion; high baseline Lysholm score; short duration of symptoms; non-involvement of the patella-femoral joint; young age; and small defect. Factors predicting a poor outcome were: multiple lesions; low baseline Lysholm score; degenerative cartilage surrounding the lesion; long symptom duration; meniscal lesion; and large defect. ConclusionsThe choice of surgical method seem to be less important than other patients-specific predictors. Level of evidenceCase series, Level IV.