Treatment Of Talar Osteochondral Lesions Research Articles

Biomaterials augmented with filtered bone marrow aspirate for the treatment of talar osteochondral lesions. A comparison of clinical and cellular parameters.

Biomaterials augmented with Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) are becoming increasingly utilized in the cartilage treatment. However, the potential role of cellular parameters in the intraoperatively applied BMAC have yet to be elucidated. (A) To evaluate clinical outcomes and safety of a combined single-step approach with scaffolds (fibrin glues, collagen gels, collagen-hydroxyapatite membrane) and filtered Bone Marrow Aspirate (fBMA) for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). (B) To identify significant factors for postoperative improvements, considering cellular parameters as potential predictors. All the patients operated on due to OLTs by the combination above were selected from the hospital registry database (35 pts, years 16-55, and minimally 1year follow-up). Treatment outcomes were followed clinically with Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and by pursuing serious adverse events (SAE) and graft failures (GF). Cellular parameters of the injected fBMA were determined. Pre- and postoperative PROMs values were compared to evaluate postoperative improvements. Multivariable regression models were applied to identify potential factors (demographics, medical history, joint and lesion characteristics, scaffold type, surgical and cellular parameters) that predict the treatment outcomes. At the mean follow-up of 32.2 (12.5) months, all Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and European Quality of Life in Five Dimensions Three-Level (EQ-5D-3L) values improved significantly. 4 (11%) SAE (3 arthrofibrosis, one hardware removal), and 3 (9%) GF occurred. Female gender and concomitant procedures were the main negative predictors for postoperative outcomes. The number of fibroblast colony forming units (CFU-F) or their proportion among total nucleated cells (CFU-F/TNC) were positively correlated with the improvements of some PROMs. Scaffolds augmented with fBMA proved as an adequate and safe approach for OLTs treatment. Cellular parameters seem to influence the treatment outcomes, thus further attention should be given to the intraoperatively applied products. Level IV.

Evidence for operative treatment of talar osteochondral lesions: a systematic review.

PurposeOperative treatment of talar osteochondral lesions is challenging with various treatment options. The aims were (i) to compare patient populations between the different treatment options in terms of demographic data and lesion size and (ii) to correlate the outcome with demographic parameters and preoperative scores.MethodsA systemic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases Pubmed (MEDLINE) and Embase were screened for reports with the following inclusion criteria: minimum 2-year follow-up after operative treatment of a talar osteochondral lesion in at least ten adult patients and published between 2000 and 2020.ResultsForty-five papers were included. Small lesions were treated using BMS, while large lesions with ACI. There was no difference in age between the treatment groups. There was a correlation between preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and change in AOFAS score (R = −0.849, P < 0.001) as well as AOFAS score at follow-up (R = 0.421, P = 0.008). Preoperative size of the cartilage lesion correlates with preoperative AOFAS scores (R= −0.634, P = 0.001) and with change in AOFAS score (R = 0.656, P < 0.001) but not with AOFAS score at follow-up. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a comparison of the outcome between the different operative techniques was not possible.ConclusionPatient groups with bigger lesions and inferior preoperative scores did improve the most after surgery.Level of evidenceIV.

OSTEOCHONDRAL AUTOLOGOUS TRANSPLANTATION VERSUS ARTHROSCOPIC DEBRIDEMENT WITH DRILLING IN THE TREATMENT OF TALAR OSTEOCHONDRAL LESIONS AND DEFECTS

The aim: To conduct a comparative analysis of the results of arthroscopic debridement with drilling (ADD) versus osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) in the treatment of talar osteochondral lesions and defects (OHLD) based on the assessment of the function of the ankle joint, the level of pain and changes in the range of movements (ROM) in the affected joint. Materials and methods: The study included 40 patients with OHLD, with an average area of 3.14 cm2 and a depth of 1.15 cm, located in the posterior and middle medial part of the talus block. In the group 1 performed ADD. In group 2 - OAT. The results were evaluated before surgery, at 12 and 24 months. The level of pain to VAS, the function to AOFAS, the ROM in the joint were studied. Results: After treatment, there was a significant reduction in pain with the best result in group 2 (p<0.05). AOFAS showed that after 12 and 24 months the functional state of the joint in group 2 was better than in group 1 (p<0.01). After 12 months, ROM increased significantly in both groups. After 24 months, there was no increase in ROM in group 1, and in group 2 the growth was statistically significant (p<0.01), which confirmed the higher prospects and stability of the result when performing OAT. Conclusions: OAT is better than ADD for talar OHLD, provides maximum recovery of the joint surface, significantly reduces pain and improves ankle function.

Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Does Gender Impact Outcomes?

Category:AnkleIntroduction/Purpose:Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is commonly used in the treatment of osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus. There is limited data comparing gender differences in the incidence and presentation of talar OCLs and resultant outcomes following AOT. The purpose of this study is to compare these differences between male and female patients.Methods:Eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent AOT were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on gender. Demographic data and OCL defect characteristic data were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed pre- and post-operatively using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score was used to assess cartilage incorporation.Results:Fifty-six (64%) males and 31 (36%) females with a mean clinical follow-up was 47.2 months were included in this study. OCL defect size was significantly larger in male patients (112.8mm2) when compared with female patients (88.7mm2) (p<0.0001). Male patients presented with a significantly longer duration of symptoms (p<0.001) and OCLs were more likely to be associated with a recognized trauma (p=0.0006) when compared with female patients who typically presented with associated chronic ankle instability. Mean FAOS improved pre- to postoperatively from 50 to 81(p< 0.001) with a statistically significant increase found in male patients (p<0.0001). The mean MOCART score was 82.1 in male and 86.7 female patients. (p<0.0001).No differences were found in knee donor site morbidity, complication rate, or revision surgery between male and female patients.Conclusion:Our study demonstrates that male patients typically present with talar OCLs that are larger in size, associated with a recognized trauma, and with longer symptom duration when compared with female patients. Talar OCLs in female patients typically were smaller in size and associated with chronic ankle instability. In addition, male patients had greater improvement in FAOS scores following AOT. Therefore, understanding these differences may influence the management and treatment of talar OCLs in male and female patients.

Arthroscopic microfracture alone or combined application of acellular scaffold: Which one is more effective in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus?

Background/Aim: The optimal treatment method of the talar osteochondral lesions (TOLs) is still controversial. Although the success of arthroscopic microfracture treatment (AMFx) in smaller lesions is known, different treatment methods are tried in larger-sized TOLs. This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of the single-step AMFx repair procedure and the combined application of AMFx and cell-free scaffold (CFS) in the treatment of TOLs. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients presenting with a TOL larger than 1.5 cm2 and smaller than 3 cm2 between March 2015 and June 2018 who received arthroscopic treatment and attended follow-up for at least 24 months. Eighteen patients (group 1) were treated with the AMFx method, and 16 patients (group 2) with AMFx + CFS. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Tegner Activity Scores were used for clinical evaluation, and MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) score was used to assess cartilage repair tissue. Results: The mean patient age was 33.47 (8.67) years and the mean follow-up time was 32.24 (9.33) months. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (P=0.984), body mass index (P=0.450), defect size (P=0.081) and follow-up time (P=0.484). The median AOFAS score increased from preoperative assessment until follow-up assessment at 12 months in groups 1 (P<0.001) and group 2 (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical scores, or the components of the MOCART score. Conclusion: Comparisons revealed that outcomes at the end of 24-month follow-up were similar between two groups. Therefore, TOLs appear to benefit similarly from the AMFx and AMFx + CFS techniques.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Persistent Problems After Ankle Sprains: Surgical Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Ankle sprains are common injuries that can lead to persistent disability and pain for many patients. Such symptoms are often a result of damage to the articular cartilage of the talar dome and the subchondral bone, an injury broadly classified as an osteochondral lesion of the talus. Lesions indicated for surgery can be treated with a range of methods. These generally fall into the categories of reparative treatment, which is suitable for smaller lesions and can typically be performed arthroscopically, or replacement strategies, which can provide superior outcomes for large lesions but often require an open approach. In recent years, many treatment options have incorporated stem cells and other biologics that seek to improve healing. We will provide an overview of indications for the treatment of talar osteochondral lesions and current treatment strategies before discussing our favored technique, outcomes, and potential complications.

Pain Scores and Return to Activities/Sport Following Dehydrated Micronized Allogenic Cartilage and Isolated Microfracture for Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions

Category:SportsIntroduction/Purpose:Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are common injuries, however management remains challenging. Lesion size remains a common determinant of treatment and microfracture remains common for smaller lesions. Microfracture provides access to mesenchymal stem cells within the subchondral bone. Dehydrated micronized allogenic cartilage (DMAC) (BioCartilage, Arthrex, Naples, FL) utilizes a single stage attempt to augment microfracture with a scaffold over the defect to improve hyaline cartilage restoration. DMAC requires hydration with plasma rich protein (PRP) or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). Currently, there is limited literature on pain scores and return-to-activities and satisfactory return- to-sport following DMAC treatments. The purpose of this study is to report pain scores, percent and time return-to -activities, percent and time to satisfactory return-to-sport following microfracture + DMAC and isolated microfracture.Methods:We reviewed a series of 65 cases (37 female and 28 male; mean age 34.6 (SD 14.1); mean BMI 27.3 (SD 6.2)) between 2010 and 2019 in which surgical treatment for OLT consisted of microfracture + DMAC, or isolated microfracture. Surgical procedure was determined by treating surgeon. Demographic, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores (0-10), return-to-activities, and satisfactory-return-to-sport were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at 3-months, 6-months, and 1 year. Return-to- activities was defined as any engagement in desired activities, whereas satisfactory-return-to-sport was determined by patient- report. T-tests were used to determine between group differences.Results:Sixty-five cases (DMAC 25; isolated-microfracture: 40) demonstrated mean pain score at 3-months for DMAC and isolated-microfracture of 0.8 and 2.0, respectively, (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in remaining pain scores. By 1- year, 100% of DMAC and 87.5% of isolated-microfracture returned-to-activities, p=0.09. Of those that returned-to-activities there was no difference in time-to-return-to-activities between groups 82.9 days vs 82.4 days. By 1-year, patients that return-to-sport demonstrated a patient-reported satisfactory-level-of-return of 52.0% in DMAC and 37.5% in isolated-microfracture. Of those that returned satisfactorily-to-sport, the time-to-satisfactory-return-to-sport was similar (mean 139.5 and 135.7 days, p=0.66). A subgroup analysis of microfracture + DMAC group determined that PRP (n=16) had less pain at 3 months than BMAC (n=9), mean 0.8 vs 2.0, respectively; p=0.03, with no other differences noted (p>0.05).Conclusion:The use of microfracture + DMAC may improve early post-operative pain scores and improve ability to return to a patient-reported satisfactory level of sport by 1-year. Isolated microfracture and DMAC augmentation had similar rates and times to return-to-activities, and pain levels after 6-months post-operatively. The use of PRP to supplement DMAC improved early post- operative pain scores compared to BMAC which may be related to donor-site morbidity. Otherwise PRP and BMAC supplementation of DMAC had similar subsequent pain scores, and rate and time to return to activities. Augmentation of microfracture with DMAC for OLTs may improve outcomes compared to microfracture alone.

Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Does Gender Impact Outcomes?

Category:Ankle; ArthroscopyIntroduction/Purpose:Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is commonly used in the treatment of osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus. There is limited data comparing gender differences in the incidence, presentation, and outcomes following AOT. The purpose of this study is to compare these differences between male and female patients.Methods:Eighty-five consecutive patients who underwent AOT were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on gender. Demographic data and OCL defect characteristic data were recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed pre- and post-operatively using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score was used to assess cartilage incorporation. The mean clinical follow-up was 47.2 months, with mean MRI follow-up of 24.8 months.Results:Fifty-five (65%) males and 30 (35%) females were included. OCL defect size was significantly larger in men (112.8mm2) when compared with women (88.7mm2) (p<0.0001). Male patients had a significantly longer duration of symptoms (p<0.001) and OCLs were more likely traumatic in nature (p=0.0006) when compared with female patients. Mean FAOS improved pre- to postoperatively from 50 to 81(P < .001) with a statistically significant increase in men (p<0.0001). The mean MOCART score was 82.1 and 86.7 in male and female patients, respectively (p<0.0001). Lesion size was negatively correlated with MOCART score (r = -0.36,P = .004). No differences were found in knee donor site morbidity, complication rate, or revision surgery.Conclusion:Our study demonstrates that male patients typically present with talar OCLs that are larger in size, traumatic in nature, and with longer symptom duration when compared with female patients. In addition, male patients had greater improvement in FAOS scores following AOT. Therefore, understanding these differences may influence the management and treatment of talar OCLs in male and female patients.

Surgical treatment of talar osteo-chondral lesions with micro-fractures, mesenchymal cells grafting on membrane, or allograft: Mid-term clinical and magnetic resonance assessment

Talar dome osteo-chondral lesions (OCL) are defects of the cartilaginous surface and subchondral bone often associated with sport practice. This retrospective observational work has the purpose of assessing: a) The clinical outcomes in the patients study group and in the three sub-groups; b) medium-term morphological and qualitative outcomes of the newly formed tissue by magnetic resonance imaging; c) if there is the correlation between new formed tissue clinical, morphological RM evaluation and qualitative clinical outcomes.

Comparison of Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes following Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions with Micronized Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Mixed with Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate vs Microfracture

Category:Ankle, Arthroscopy, SportsIntroduction/Purpose:Historically, microfracture has been the standard surgical treatment for talar osteochondral lesions (OLTs); however, it is associated with unsatisfactory long-term results due to the formation of biomechanically inferior reparative fibrocartilage as opposed to normal hyaline-like cartilage. Thus, the optimal treatment for OLTs remains contested. Application of micronized allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) as an adjuvant therapy during the treatment of OLTs offers a promising option that could be administered arthroscopically to improve the quality of reparative tissue. The purpose of this study is to provide a case-control series comparing radiographic and functional outcomes following treatment of OLTs with an adjuvant mixture of micronized allogenic cartilage ECM and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) to those achieved following standard microfracture with or without BMAC.Methods:194 patients (average age 37) with a minimum 1-year follow-up who were treated for an OLT by a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon were screened for inclusion. 107 patients who received mixed micronized cartilage ECM and BMAC (Group I), 40 who were treated by microfracture augmented with BMAC (Group II), and 47 patients who were treated with traditional microfracture alone (Group III) were identified. Preoperative lesion size, lesion location, and concurrent injuries were recorded retrospectively. Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS) were completed preoperatively and postoperatively through the prospective Registry database at the authors’ institution. Outcomes were assessed radiographically at a minimum of 6 months postoperatively by a trained radiologist using the MOCART scoring system. Linear regression modeling was used to assess differences in MOCART scores, post-operative FAOS scores, pre-to-postoperative change in FAOS, and the rate of revision surgery between groups I, II, and III.Results:The average MOCART score for Group I was 62.39, (average follow-up 16.13 months; n = 46), 58.8 (26.82 months; n =25) for Group II and, 55.36 (43.12 months; n=14) for Group III patients (p=0.57). The rate of revision surgery for OLTs treated using adjuvant micronized cartilage ECM was 5% and was significantly lower when compared to a 22.7% rate of revision surgery following microfracture with or without BMAC (p<0.001). Finally, when controlling for lesion size, changes in pre-to-postoperative FAOS Pain and Sports Activities were significantly different amongst the 3 treatment groups (p=0.05). Group I had the greatest improvement in Pain.Conclusion:Micronized allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix serves as an adjunctive therapy that may help improve patients’ radiographic and functional outcomes following treatment of OLTs when compared to outcomes following traditional microfracture. Specifically, use of adjunctive ECM appears to have better postop FAOS Pain scores when controlled for lesion size when compared to microfracture. There is a lower rate of revision surgery with the use of allogenic cartilage ECM in the short to intermediate term when compared with microfracture.

Outcomes Following Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions with a Mixture of Particulate Allogenic Cartilage Extracellular Matrix and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate: A Case Control Series

Objectives: There continues to be a general lack of consensus regarding the optimal treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs). Microfracture, once considered the gold-standard, has been associated with poor long-term results due to the formation of biomechanically inferior reparative fibrocartilage as opposed to hyaline cartilage. Particulate allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix offers a promising solution as an adjuvant therapy; however, there is currently minimal objective evidence to indicate its effect on post-operative outcomes. This study compares post-operative radiographic and clinical outcomes following treatment of OLTs with an adjuvant mixture of particulate cartilage extracellular matrix and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) against outcomes following microfracture with or without BMAC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with an OLT and treated by a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon were screened for inclusion. Those whose surgical intervention included microfracture, microfracture augmented with BMAC alone, or microfracture augmented with a mixture of BMAC and particulate allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix were eligible for this case-control study. Lesion size, location, and concurrent injuries were recorded following retrospective chart review. Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS) were collected pre-operatively and at a minimum of 1 year post-operatively through the prospective Registry database at the authors’ institution. Modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) scoring evaluated the structural quality of repaired lesions on MRIs collected greater than six months post-operatively. Differences in post-operative MOCART and FAOS scores were evaluated using ANOVA tests. Results: Forty-seven patients treated with microfracture alone, forty-seven treated with microfracture augmented by BMAC, and fifty-two treated with an adjuvant mixture of particulate allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix and BMAC were identified at a minimum of 2 years post-operatively. Average MOCART scores were significantly different between treatment groups (p=0.03). At an average follow-up of 10.86 months, patients who received adjunctive therapy had an average MOCART score of 73.5 ± 11.13. At an average follow-up of 23.06 months and 43.6 months respectively, patients treated with microfracture and BMAC and microfracture alone scored 63.33 ± 22.23 and 55 ± 23.92. There was no detectable statistically significant difference in post-operative FAOS scores between treatment groups. With respect to revision surgery, two patients (3.84%) originally treated with adjuvant particulate cartilage extracellular matrix and BMAC have required a secondary surgery as opposed to nine patients (9.57%) treated with microfracture and BMAC or microfracture alone. Conclusion: Increases in post-operative FAOS scores compared to pre-operative FAOS scores for all treatment groups indicate patients’ function and symptoms improved regardless of intervention received. However, significantly higher MOCART scores for the particulate cartilage extracellular matrix and BMAC treatment group suggest adjuvant treatment may help achieve better post-operative fill and structural integrity. Thus, long-term outcomes and the quality of reparative tissues may be improved through use of adjuvant treatments such as particulate allogenic cartilage extracellular matrix and BMAC.

Outcomes Following the Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions with BioCartilage and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Mixture

Category: Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: With reported incidence rates ranging from 40% to 70% post ankle sprains and fractures, osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are not uncommon. However, management of such defects remains challenging. Microfracturing is considered the standard treatment for symptomatic OLTs.Larger lesions however typically require more invasive restorative procedures such as autologous osteochondral transplantation. Microfracture results are variable due to the fact that the resulting reparative fibrocartilage is weaker and biomechanically inferior to native hyaline cartilage. In this study, we examine the functional and radiological outcomes following use of a new arthroscopic technique utilizing a mixture of micronized allograft cartilage matrix (BioCartilage) (Arthrex, Naples, FL) soaked in Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) to fill OLTs. Methods: Eighty-six consecutive patients treated for OLT using arthroscopic debridement and BioCartilage matrix soaked in BMAC were identified. All patients were treated by a single fellowship-trained sports medicine and foot and ankle surgeon. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). This information was obtained from a prospective registry at the authors’ institution. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to determine statistical significance between pre and postoperative clinical scores. Additionally, an attending radiologist assessed the reparative cartilage morphology on postoperative MRI scans. This was evaluated and scored using a modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage tissue (MOCART) scoring system. Results: Thirty-one patients (19 Females; 12 Males) with a mean age of 37.8 years (Range 15–54) had a minimum follow-up duration of 12 months and were thus included in this review. Mean follow-up duration was 15.8 months (Range 12 –25.7). The mean patient BMI was 27.4 (Range 19.6 – 39.4), while the average osteochondral lesion size was 85.9 mm2 (Range 35 – 220). The Physical Function domain of the PROMIS score, demonstrated statistically significant change, improving from 40.63 ±8.31 to 48.31 ±10.07 (p=0.02). The Pain Intensity domain also improved significantly from 49.06 ±9.32 to 42.14 ±9.38 (p=0.03). The Pain Interference domain and FAOS scores did improve but not reaching statistical significance. The mean MRI MOCART score was 69 ±13.34 with 13.3 months average follow-up duration. Conclusion: Achieving the longest duration possible of symptom-free functioning postoperatively is the main goal of any cartilage repair procedure. Augmentation of an articular lesion’s infill with BioCartilage and BMAC may help enhance the biomechanical properties of the reparative fibrocartilage construct and its longevity. Our initial findings demonstrate favorable patient-reported outcomes. Moreover, postoperative MRIs demonstrate the majority of the lesions showed either complete or hypertrophic infill, complete or hypertrophic integration, homogenous repair tissue, and isointense signals. Long-term studies prospectively assessing the effectiveness of this technique in maintaining pain-free-function of the ankle joint are warranted.

Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions using Bone Marrow Aspirate and Microgenized Allograft Cartilage Extra-cellular Matrix

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus are frequently seen after ankle injury and often result in significant morbidity. Apart from a single case report, we are the first to present a case series of OCLs treated with bone marrow aspirate and micronized extracellular allograft cartilage matrix designed to serve as a scaffold to promote autologous healing. Short to mid-term outcomes using this technique are virtually absent in the literature. In this study, we sought to assess pre- and post-procedural functional outcomes using the validated Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) as well as assess cartilage incorporation on postoperative ankle MRI using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring. Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic talar OCLs (14 lesions) were prospectively recruited. Average age was 44 years. Each underwent ankle arthroscopy, ankle arthrotomy, marrow stimulation and lesion repair using BMA and micronized extracellular allograft cartilage matrix by a single fellowship trained foot and ankle Orthopedic Surgeon. Preoperative, 6 month and 1 year postoperative PROMIS pain and function scores were collected prospectively. At six months, all patients underwent ankle MRI scans that were reviewed by a fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologist for MOCART scoring. Results: No significant difference was detected between mean pre- and postoperative PROMIS function (41.4 vs 38.1; p=.54) and pain (61.3 vs 66.1) scores at 6 months. No significant difference was seen between mean pre- and postoperative PROMIS function (41.4 vs 41.8; p=.93) and pain (61.3 vs 58; p=.48) scores at 1 year. Mean postoperative MOCART score was 53.2 with a range of 5 to 90. Conclusion: Bone marrow aspirate and extracellular allograft cartilage matrix for surgical treatment of talar OCL showed no statistically significant improvement in functional outcomes at 6 months and 1 year. No correlation between functional outcomes and MOCART score was seen.

Comparison of Juvenile Allogenous Articular Cartilage and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Versus Microfracture With and Without Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in Arthroscopic Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the functional and radiographic outcomes of patients who received juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation with autologous bone marrow aspirate (JACI-BMAC) for treatment of talar osteochondral lesions with those of patients who underwent microfracture (MF). A total of 30 patients who underwent MF and 20 who received DeNovo NT for JACI-BMAC treatment between 2006 and 2014 were included. Additionally, 17 MF patients received supplemental BMAC treatment. Retrospective chart review was performed and functional outcomes were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score and Visual Analog pain scale. Postoperative magnetic resonance images were reviewed and evaluated using a modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Tissue (MOCART) score. Average follow-up for functional outcomes was 30.9 months (range, 12-79 months). Radiographically, average follow-up was 28.1 months (range, 12-97 months). Both the MF and JACI-BMAC showed significant pre- to postoperative improvements in all Foot and Ankle Outcome Score subscales. Visual Analog Scale scores also showed improvement in both groups, but only reached a level of statistical significance ( P < .05) in the MF group. There were no significant differences in patient reported outcomes between groups. Average osteochondral lesion diameter was significantly larger in JACI-BMAC patients compared to MF patients, but size difference had no significant impact on outcomes. Both groups produced reparative tissue that exhibited a fibrocartilage composition. The JACI-BMAC group had more patients with hypertrophy exhibited on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) than the MF group ( P = .009). JACI-BMAC and MF resulted in improved functional outcomes. However, while the majority of patients improved, functional outcomes and quality of repair tissue were still not normal. Based on our results, lesions repaired with DeNovo NT allograft still appeared fibrocartilaginous on MRI and did not result in significant functional gains as compared to MF. Level III, comparative series.

Single-Step Arthroscopic Repair With Cell-Free Polymer-Based Scaffold in Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Clinical and Radiological Results

To report the clinical and radiological results of patients with talar osteochondral lesions who were treated by microfracture and cell-free scaffold implantation in a single-step arthroscopic surgery. Forty patients, treated with a single-step arthroscopic surgery, were evaluated in this single-center-based retrospective study. Patients with degenerative arthritis (n= 1), history of ankle fracture (n= 1), kissing lesions (n= 1), lower extremity deformity (n= 1), and lesions <1.5cm2 (n= 4) were excluded. Oversized (>10mm depth) bone cysts were additionally treated with bone graft. Patients were evaluated clinically, using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score. Radiological assessment was performed with magnetic resonance imaging, using the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score. Thirty-two patients with a mean age of 38 ± 12years were evaluated. The mean defect size was 2.5 ± 0.8cm2 and the mean defect volume was 2.4 ± 1.9cm3. The mean preoperative AOFAS score was 52.8 ± 13.9 and increased to 87.1 ± 11.1 postoperatively at the mean follow-up of 33.8 ± 14.0months (P=.0001). A total of 84.4% of patients had good to excellent clinical scores. Clinical scores had no significant relation with age, lesion size, depth, or body mass index. The mean MOCART score was 64.2 ± 12.0. There was no significant correlation between the total MOCART and AOFAS scores (P= .123). A significant relation was found between the defect filling (thesubgroup of the MOCART score) and the clinical outcomes (P= .0001, rho= 0.731). The arthroscopic scaffold implantation technique is a single-step, safe, and effective method for the treatment of talar osteochondral lesions with satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes. Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Topical Review: MACI as an Emerging Technology for the Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions.

Level V, expert opinion.

Patient compliance with touchdown weight bearing after microfracture treatment of talar osteochondral lesions

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the compliance of our patients with a touchdown weight bearing (without supporting any weight on the affected side by only touching the plantar aspect of the foot to the ground to maintain balance to protect the affected side from mechanical loading) postoperative rehabilitation protocol after treatment of talar osteochondral lesion (TOL).MethodsFourteen patients, who had been treated with arthroscopic debridement and microfracture, were followed prospectively. The patients were evaluated for weight bearing compliance with using a stationary gait analysis and feedback system at the postoperative first day, first week, third week, and sixth week.ResultsThe mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the patients at the preoperative, postoperative first day, first week, third week, and sixth weeks were 5.5, 5.9, 3.6, 0.9, and 0.4, respectively. The decrease in VAS scores were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). First postoperative day revealed a mean value of transmitted weight of 4.08% ±0.8 (one non-compliant patient). The mean value was 4.34% ±0.8 at the first postoperative week (two non-compliant patients), 6.95% ±2.3 at the third postoperative week (eight non-compliant patients), and 10.8% ±4.8 at the sixth postoperative week (11 non-compliant patients). In the analysis of data, we found a negative correlation between VAS scores and transmitted weight (Kendall’s tau b = −0.445 and p = 0.0228).ConclusionsAlthough patients were able to learn and adjust to the touchdown weight bearing gait protocol during the early postoperative period, most patients became non-compliant when their pain was relieved. To prevent this situation of non-compliance, patients should be warned to obey the weight bearing restrictions, and patients should be called for a follow-up at the third postoperative week.

Comparison of Juvenile Allogenous Articular Cartilage and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate versus Microfracture in Arthroscopic Treatment of Talar Osteochondral Lesions

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: There are few prior investigations that report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation with autologous bone marrow aspirate in the ankle. Reports that do exist have offered conflicting results and suggest that this relatively new technique has no significant advantage over current repair techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare the functional and radiographic outcomes of patients who received juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation with autologous bone marrow aspirate for treatment of talar osteochondral lesions with those of patients who underwent microfracture. Methods: After approval was obtained from our institutional review board, the institution’s foot and ankle registry was searched using relevant Current Procedural Terminology codes for all patients who underwent either microfracture or juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation with bone marrow aspirate concentrate for an osteochondral lesion of the talus between 2006 and 2014. Ninety-six patients fit the inclusion criteria and composed the study cohort. Of these 96 patients, 50 had undergone microfracture treatment and 46 had received DeNovo NT for juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation with bone marrow aspirate concentrate treatment, composing the microfracture (MF) and JACI-BMAC groups, respectively. Retrospective chart review was performed and functional outcomes were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) general health questionnaire. Postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images were reviewed and evaluated using a modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Tissue (MOCART) score. Results: The average followup was 40.0 (range 5.0 to 113.6) months with the MF group having an average followup of 40.3 months (range 5 to 133.6) and the JACI-BMAC group averaging a 18.6 month followup (range 9.1 to 39.6). Both the JACI-BMAC and MF groups had significant pre-to-postoperative improvements in Pain, Daily Activities, Sports, Quality of Life, and overall FAOS Scores; however, there were no significant differences in any patient reported outcomes between the groups. SF-12 scores were improved in both JACI-BMAC and MF groups, however the MF change from pre- to-postoperative did not reach significance (p = 0.214). Radiographically, both the JACI-BMAC and MF groups produced reparative tissue that exhibited a fibrocartilage composition. The JACI-BMAC group tended to have more patients with hypertrophy exhibited on MR imaging than the MF group (p = 0.030). Conclusion: Juvenile allogenic chondrocyte implantation and microfracture resulted in improved functional outcomes. However, none of the differences in FAOS scores between groups achieved the minimal clinically important difference, suggesting there may not be enough of a difference between these treatments to distinguish them in terms of patient outcomes in the short term. Both techniques produced reparative tissue that exhibited fibrocartilage composition radiographically. Based on our results, juvenile allogenous cartilage has not demonstrated a significant advantage over the microfracture technique in the treatment of talar osteochondral lesions. Longer term studies will be needed to see if these findings are maintained over time.

Distal Tibial Bone Grafting for Talar Dome Osteochondral Lesions

Category: Arthroscopy Introduction/Purpose: Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talar dome are very common and often cause disabling pain. Smaller lesions are treated successfully with bone marrow stimulation techniques such as arthroscopic microfracture. Controversy exists, however, about the optimal treatment for larger, cystic lesions. Osteochondral grafting, either allograft or autograft, is the most common technique but is not optimal, as it requires allograft tissue or donor autograft from another joint. This procedure often requires a malleolar osteotomy for access to the talus, which carries inherent morbidity. We describe a technique of treating large, cystic OCLs by transferring structurally intact autograft from the distal tibia to the talus, which can be performed without osteotomy, does not require allograft tissue, and can be obtained from a local donor site. Methods: Twenty-three ankles in 22 patients underwent distal tibial bone grafting procedure for treatment of large, cystic OCLs of the talus. A cancellous autograft bone plug was harvested from the ipsilateral distal tibial metaphysis and implanted into the drilled out talar lesion through a small anterior arthrotomy. The graft may be placed oblique to the talar surface and contoured to match the level of the surrounding subchondral bone. Allograft bone chips were used to backfill the distal tibia donor site. Pre-operative and final post-operative data was available for 11 patients with a minimum of 6 months follow-up. Validated patient reported outcomes scores and other data collected included Foot Function Index (FFI), AOFAS hindfoot score, SF-12, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain. Final postoperative data also included VAS patient satisfaction and PROMIS validated and normalized lower extremity function and pain scores. Comparisons were made by paired t-Test and data reported mean±SD. Results: Mean patient age was 47 (range 15-70). Seven of 11 patients were female. Lesions were all medial and measured 122 mm2 (range 80-160) by 8 mm depth (range 6-9). Average follow-up was 23 months (range 7-33). There were no complications or reoperations. Significant improvement (p &lt; 0.05) occurred in AOFAS Hindfoot score (67±16 to 88±12), FFI (55±20 to 22±17), VAS pain score (6.3±2.4 to 1.4±1.5), and SF-12 (31±9 to 50±10). Final VAS patient satisfaction was 8.5±1.8/10, and 10 of 11 patients reported they would have the procedure again. PROMIS scores (normalized to population mean 50±10) at final follow-up were physical function: 53±6; pain intensity: 40±10; and pain interference: 45±6. Eight of 9 patients who were employed were able to return to full duty without limitation. Conclusion: Distal tibial bone grafting is a safe and effective treatment for large talar OCLs. This technique avoids the need for allograft tissue, distant donor site morbidity, and malleolar osteotomy. Early to mid-term clinical outcomes, including validated outcomes scores, are encouraging. Our results are comparable if not better than the results reported with other described techniques for large talar OCLs. Further follow-up is necessary to define longer-term results, to assess cartilage healing with advanced imaging or second look arthroscopy, and to help define the exact role for this technique in treatment of talar osteochondral lesions.

Novel treatment of 99Tc-MDP improves clinical and radiographic results for patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Management of osteochondral lesions of talus (OLT) remains controversial. 99Tc-MDP, a decay product of 99mTc-MDP which is widely used for bone scan, is effective in the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of 99Tc-MDP treatment on OLT. In the clinical evaluation, 66 patients with a total of 83 lesions of OLT who failed appropriate non-operative treatment and surgery were retrospectively included and treated with intravenous injection of 99Tc-MDP and Chinese herbal fumigation (CHF). The effects of 99Tc-MDP and CHF on OLT were evaluated by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score (AOFAS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), activities of daily living (Barthel Index), and MRI, 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT and CT. Radiographic changes were also assessed by the transverse long diameter of the cyst on CT. At the last follow-up, AOFAS, VAS and Barthel Index improved significantly from 68.66±9.76, 3.05±0.34 and 85±8.31 to 85.4±8.31, 1.85±0.36 and 94.7±4.99 (P<0.01), respectively after one course treatment in 66 patients with OLT. Thirty one (31/66) patients had a second treatment course. Their AOFAS, VAS and Barthel Index also improved significantly after the mean follow-up of 7±2 (6-15) months. And the average diameter of the cysts decreased from 8.01±3.35 mm to 4.74±2.83 mm (P<0.01) in the 31 patients. The retrospective study indicates that a combination treatment of 99Tc-MDP and CHF is effective in pain relief and return of function in a short term of follow-up for patients with OLT. Our results suggest that the small cystic lesions with increased uptake of 99mTc-MDP on SPECT/CT can be well treated by 99Tc-MDP and CHF. This novel technique holds the potential to emerge as an effective conservative treatment for OLT without adverse effects. The level of evidence for 99Tc-MDP is medium for the number of patients and retrospective study.