Arthroscopic autologous osteochondral grafting for cartilage defects of the knee: prospective study results at a minimum 7-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Articular cartilage lesions, with their inherent limited healing potential, remain a challenging problem for orthopaedic surgeons. Various approaches have been proposed to treat these lesions; nevertheless, opinions on indications and clinical efficacy of these techniques are still controversial.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of osteochondral autografts for treatment of femoral condyle cartilage lesions at a medium-to long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated 30 patients (mean age, 29.3 years) with full-thickness knee chondral lesions (<2.5 cm(2)) treated with arthroscopic autologous osteochondral transplantation. Thirteen patients underwent previous surgery, while 17 patients were operated on for the first time. In 19 patients, associated procedures were performed. All patients were evaluated at 2- and 7-year follow-up. The International Cartilage Repair Society form, Tegner score, and magnetic resonance imaging were used for clinical evaluation.


RESULTS
The International Cartilage Repair Society objective evaluation showed 76.7% of patients had good or excellent results at 7-year follow-up, and International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score significantly improved from preoperative (34.8) to 7-year follow-up (71.8). The Tegner evaluation showed a significant improvement after the surgery at 2- and 7-year follow-up (from 2.9 to 6.2 and 5.6, respectively); however, we noticed reduced sports activity from 2- to 7-year follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation showed good integration of the graft in the host bone and complete maintenance of the grafted cartilage in more than 60% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this technique at medium- to long-term follow-up are encouraging. This arthroscopic 1-step surgery appears to be a valid solution for treatment of small, grade III to IV cartilage defects.
Marcacci
Maurilio
M
Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.
Kon
Elizaveta
E
Delcogliano
Marco
M
Filardo
Giuseppe
G
Busacca
Maurizio
M
Zaffagnini
Stefano
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000379:methods*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome